A second Water Street retail landmark is closing its doors.
Melendy’s Kuffer Korner, in operation in downtown St. John’s for 55 years — the past 50 on Water Street — will be closing its stores by the end of the year.
Current manager Holly Melendy Dalton — the daughter of Karl Melendy, who opened the store in the ‘50s, said the store is closing for a combination of reasons, including a softer economy.
One of the main reasons, Dalton said, is the lack of downtown parking, which she called “a nightmare.”
“Not just for customers, but for us. I have to park way up the west end of Water Street. I have about a 10-minute walk every morning,” she said, chuckling.
Apart from that, Dalton said, it’s just the right time.
“The family, we’ve done it now for over 50 years. We say 50 years, but it’s actually 50 years of retail. It’s been more than 50 years that my dad actually started the business, and I think it’s just time.”
The store will close permanently once it has sold off all of its remaining inventory.
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