Kentucky has had the same shop serving the town for the last 90 years, and the race is on to save the business before it disappears forever, potentially taking the village with it.
Kentucky’s General Store first opened in the 1930s and has passed through several hands over the years. Current owners Rodney and Deborah McGrath plan to retire on May 31 after struggling to find a buyer interested in taking over the store.
Fortunately, a group of devoted locals have been working behind the scenes to raise $500,000, buy the store and keep it alive. Speaking to the New England Times, Chair of the newly formed Kentucky NSW Co-Op Limited, Kevin “Kel” Hughes, said the organisation had taken a significant step toward keeping the store open.
“We had our foundation meeting to register the co-operative, which is fundamental to saving the store,” he said.
“We also had a public meeting on May 5, which went very well, there were quite a few people in attendance and quite a few pledges of support made.”
A co-operative is owned and controlled by its members for a common benefit. Unlike private companies, co-operatives don’t limit memberships and have a one-member, one-vote’ system, where all have an equal say.
Fundraising Race Begins
Now that the Kentucky NSW Co-Op is registered, Kel says they are planning to start “madly fundraising” through various formats, such as a GoFundMe and selling shares. They are also looking for people to contribute financially, volunteer, or donate goods or services to the store.
There are 600 shares on offer for $1000 each. All the raised funds will go toward purchasing the Kentucky General Store, restocking goods, and revamping the property.
“We want it to be a community hub, with everything under one roof, groceries, fuel, a post office, and new additions such as a beer garden, the café, dinner events and other initiatives,” Kel said.
“At this stage, we are spreading the word far and wide, as we are limited in what we can raise locally. The hope is people’s sense of community will compel them to help us keep our store open.”
According to Kel, if the co-op can raise the funds to buy the store before May 31, it will officially open under the new owners on July 1. The store will remain open between the change in ownership.
If they fail, Kel doesn’t think the village will long outlive the store, as it’s critical to the community and the surrounding area.
“It’s everything. If we lose our store, we will likely lose the village. It’s the heart of the community. If we don’t have the supplies here in Kentucky, we have to drive to Walcha or Uralla, which is a bit of a drive, especially for older people,” he said.
“Other communities just south of us are dependent on the shop as well, particularly the post office, because they don’t have those services down there; the store is a fairly critical thing for the local area.”
Visit the Kentucky NSW Co-Op Facebook page for more information about the efforts to keep the Kentucky General Store open and ways you can help.
End of an Era for Store Owners
Kentucky General Store owners Rodney and Deborah McGrath first took over the business in June 2008. They came to the area looking for an escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Speaking to the New England Times, Rodney said it was a tough choice to leave the store after nearly 16 years, but they are “running on empty and a bit tired.”
“We first came here from the Southern Highlands and found out the store was up for grabs, and that’s how we decided to stay here in the community,” he said.
“Now that our boys have grown up and have done really well with jobs, partners, and all the rest, we decided the time was right to move on and enjoy ourselves a bit while we can.”
Where they will go next is still up in the air. According to Rodney, the store’s sale will directly affect where they can retire. If it fails to sell, they will likely stay in the area, just not as business owners.
“We are looking at maybe going to Armidale, Uralla; the coast would also be an attractive option,” he said.
“We are keeping an eye out, but not really in a position to make concrete plans or put an offer or a deposit on a property until the store sale is finalised.”
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