Stouffville’s Main Street construction is bringing about many changes, but not in a good way for two local store owners.
David and Derek Monaghan, brothers, and owners of 1001 Variety, said the construction is the final straw in their decision to close the store in the Stouffville Plaza.
“Our sales have just dropped drastically,” Derek said. “We really didn’t want to have to make this decision.”
The brothers’ parents started the small variety store in 1968, with help from their sons. The pair eventually took the store over.
The 40th anniversary is next month.
The store has been a regular stop for many residents looking to buy knickknacks, cigarettes, beverages and that lucky lottery ticket. But that’s all about to change.
The brothers, both in their 50s, made the decision to close the store after attempts to sell the business returned no results.
“Nobody wanted to take it over with the rent and the construction,” said Derek.
Mayor Wayne Emmerson said he sympathizes with the owners for having to come to their decision, but said the town has done its best to minimize the impact of the construction.
“We’ve kept two lanes of traffic open the entire time,” he said, adding entrances to the plaza where the store is located have been kept open for patrons to get in and out.
Construction on Main Street was inevitable, he said.
Derek said although the construction had a “major effect” on the business, there were other reasons for closing the business as well.
“We took a major hit when they did the re-construction of the plaza,” he said, adding the business “never really recovered”.
David said competition from other stores, like Wal-Mart and neighbouring Giant Tiger, also affected their sales.
Less demand locally for cigarettes doesn’t help.
“Everything’s just all added up.”
For the brothers’ customers, they’re going to have to go somewhere else for that chocolate fix or lottery ticket.
“It’s absolutely criminal,” said Bob Bundy, a resident and customer for 33 years. “They withstood all the other things, like the LCBO and Shopper’s (Drug Mart) moving (from the plaza), but just not this,” he said, referring to the construction.
Another customer asked when the store was closing and shook his head in disbelief when he realized the date was a mere two weeks away.
David and Derek’s last day is Sept. 12.
The brothers said the reaction from their customers has been echoed across the board.
“A lot of them are shocked and disappointed we’re leaving the business,” said David.
As for the future, the pair are looking for employment elsewhere.
“I’m hoping to find something local,” said Derek, who has lived in Stouffville for 40 years. “It’s not looking good so far.”