Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Williams Market to close its doors


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

Come the end of September, Ketchum residents will be left with only one supermarket at which to buy groceries.

After 12 years in business, Williams Market is calling it quits.

"It's just no longer viable," said owner Chris Williams. "There's been some demographic changes in the North Valley. For us, at least, it has not been a favorable change. The family has decided to exit (the business) as a result of that."

The equivalent of 25 full-time employees will be out of work, Williams said.

The market on Main Street will begin a 10 percent discount sale today, with progressive markdowns through the end of September.

"We will be liquidating our inventory ... as the weeks go by," Williams said.

About $400,000 worth of goods remains on shelves.

Williams said the changing face of Ketchum is good for some businesses, but has been hard on others.

"The merchandise business has not been extraordinarily brisk," he said. "I can't speak for boutiques or the construction business, but some suppliers appear to be doing well. Basically, every new project has been related to residential development."

He said the family hasn't decided what they'll do, but Williams plans to stay in the area.

"I've enjoyed living here and working here," he said. "It's with quite a bit of sadness that we're closing."




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