New England Newspapers

WILLIAMSTOWN -- After more than 45 years of selling farm, garden and home supplies, a local business that has become a staple in town will close at the end of the month.

Agway at 600 Main St. will officially close it doors on Oct. 31, long-time owner Mike Uryniak, 61, said Wednesday.

"It all boils down to a matter of timing," he said. "My age and all the factors -- it's just a matter of timing."

While age was a factor in his decision to close, Uryniak said inventory costs have increased over the past three to four years, and there are many stores in the area selling similar products.

"If I was 10 years younger, I probably would invest more money into this, but I have to face reality," he said. "I just looked at everything and decided it was the best course of action."

Uryniak said a couple of people have expressed interest in continuing the store's product line, and it wouldn't surprise him if possibly another Agway dealer appears "in this corridor."

"Whether or not somebody fills the gap is a tough question to answer," he said.

Agway's presence in Williamstown dates back to at least 1963 when it opened at 361 Cole Ave. between the bridge over the Hoosic River and the bridge over the railroad tracks.

At that time, the business sold farming supplies, animal feed and building materials -- much of it in bulk, Uryniak said.

"Its real peak was in the 1960s and 70s

before a lot of farms started going out," he said.

Uryniak began working at Agway in 1973 a year after he got out of the U.S. Army, and began managing the business in 1978. The business had been part of the Agway Inc. franchise until it dissolved about 10 years ago.

"It's always been kind of a simple business yet interesting at the same time. It has certainly been a challenge physically. You didn't have to go to the gym after a day here, especially a spring day," Uryniak said.

In 1992 Agway moved to its current location on Main Street in what used to be the Gardner Chevrolet building.

"Here in this location, the great years were the late 1990s and early 21st century. After that, business was OK, but not as good as that period," Uryniak said.

He said the types of products available at the store have changed tremendously over the years, and are much more "consumer oriented" -- geared toward homeowners and landscapers.

Lisa DeMayo of Bonnie Lea Farm said Agway was one of the farm's suppliers, and it's sad to see it close.

"It's an institution that is going to be missed. How can you have Williamstown without an Agway?" she said Wednesday.

She said Uryniak was always there when they need him such as when the farm would run out of staple items for its horses, cows and chickens.

"It was the random stuff he always had," she said.

Williamstown Resident Pamela Weatherbee said Wednesday she buys gardening materials, plants, seeds and bird seed at Agway, and likes that it's located in town.

"It's just very handy for all kinds of things," she said.

She said she likes shopping at the store because it has a wide variety of things she is interested in.

"I think it really filled a niche in Williamstown and this area. It's really sad. I hate to see a local business go out," she said.

To reach Meghan Foley, e-mail mfoley@thetranscript.com.