Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

The Sanborn Old General Store
The Sanborn Old General Store

Chamber Awards Gala: Sanborn Old General Store named Sanborn Business of the Year

by jmaloni
Sat, Apr 19th 2014 07:00 am

by Jennifer Pauly

President

Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will honor 10 businesses and individuals at its annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday, May 16, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

Sanborn Business of the Year

Sanborn Old General Store

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Sanborn Old General Store as the recipient of the Sanborn Business of the Year Award.

The Sanborn Business and Professional Association assists the chamber in providing a business nomination that shows dedication and service to the Sanborn community. The Sanborn Old General Store is celebrating its 14th year this June and has enhanced the business community with a great place for visitors to shop in Sanborn.

The Sanborn Old General Store is an antique co-op located at 5856 Buffalo St., in the very center of Sanborn. There are currently 25 antique dealers who sell furniture, collectibles, gifts, vintage jewelry, china, pottery, glass and much more. Chris Townsend operates the store alongside manager Laurie Corra.

Chris' husband, Gary Townsend, along with their son, Michael, bought the historic building 16 years ago. Gary was retired and looking for something to do with the bottom portion of the building. He had just finished renovating the top rooms of the building into two apartments. The building was formerly LeVan's Hardware & Grocery Store.

Chris was retired from Tops Market and they decided together to open the Sanborn Old General Store Co-op. The building has retained the old-world character that visitors like to experience when out antiquing.

The store has come a long way in the 14 years it has been open. The antique business has changed the past few years, especially with the ability of being able to sell online. With new avenues to sell on eBay, craigslist and other websites, the business has been able to grow its presence all over the world. Advertising and selling online has helped connect vendors with new customers every day.

One of the perks of having 25 dealers at one business is being able to get to know so many nice people. The customers and dealers make running the business enjoyable. Chris and Laurie love helping customers find the perfect and hard-to-find antique or collectible. Sanborn has long been known as a destination for antique shopping, with the General Store as one of three antique shops in the busy hamlet.

Chris and Laurie operate the store year-round, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chris and Gary strongly support community activities in the area and, along with Laurie, are very much involved in the Sanborn Area Historical Society and the Sanborn Business & Professional Association and many other organizations.

It is important to them to support the organizations that work to bring visitors and commerce to Sanborn.

The Sanborn Old General Store is thriving quite well, and its operators are looking forward to serving the community and surrounding areas for years to come.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, along with the Sanborn Business and Professional Association, proudly congratulate the Sanborn Old General Store as the 2014 Sanborn Business of the Year.

Hometown News

View All News