Massachusetts store closes after 137 years in business

GREENFIELD, Mass. – A Massachusetts department store that’s been in business for 137 years is shutting down.

Kevin O’Neil, president of Wilson’s Department Store in Greenfield, tells the Recorder that a stock liquidation sale will start Friday.

The 65-year-old O’Neil says he is retiring to spend more time with his family, to hike and to travel and no other family members wanted to take the reins.

He says he’s not sure he would encourage them to do so in any case, given the challenging state of the retail industry.

Currently on three floors, the store was founded in 1882 as The Boston Store. Scottish immigrant John Wilson bought it in 1896 and renamed it the John Wilson Co.

O’Neil has worked at the business since 1981 and became president in 1990.

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Information from: The (Greenfield, Mass.) Recorder, http://www.recorder.com