UPDATE 12/10 11:12 a.m.: See correction below.
After just over a year in business, Kingdon Family Market in Pavilion will soon close. The economy proved too tough, the customers too few and the big-box competition too fierce.
Sometime this month, Vicki and Jeff Kingdon will no longer be the green grocer entrepreneurs they have been.
"I'll be looking for a job," Vicki said this afternoon. "We tried, but it just didn't work out. We can't afford to keep it open. We're throwing out more money than we're taking in."
The couple had no prior grocery experience, but the building came at a good price and so they made a "spur of the moment" decision to operate a full-service store, with fresh produce, meat, bread -- the works.
They had no employees so they did everything themselves.
"It's tough," Vicki said. "We spent a lot of money, but people are going to Walmart and Tops. We are not in a co-op."
Meaning, they aren't able to pool collective resources and buy in bulk like chain stores.
The last time Pavilion had an independent grocery store was about four years ago.
The Kingdons aren't sure what they'll do with the building at this point, which is located at 6946 Ellicott St. Road.
The best part of the whole thing?
"Meeting new people."
