BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON - Florence resident Peggy Lisnek was anxious Friday to take an out-of-town visitor to her favorite store in Northern Kentucky, George W. Hill & Co.
It's a good thing she went, because the next time she wants to visit, the general store may not be there.
The store's parent company, Agri Bio Tech of Henderson, Nev., told employees Friday the 135-year-old general store would be closing, probably before the first of the year.
"I can't believe it. I'm so sad," said Ms. Lisnek, who went to the store to buy food for her 15-year-old cat, Ebony, a snow shovel and some chocolate-covered raisins.
"I come here all the time. They have items you just can't find anyplace else, and it's such a neat old store."
"Peggy brought me here because she said I would love the store, and I do,' said Pat Dickerman, who lives in a Los Angeles suburb and is visiting Ms. Lisnek.
"It's a shame it's closing."
Officials from Agri Bio Tech did not return phone calls to comment. Dave Hill, whose great-grandfather George Hill founded the store in 1863, said he could not comment other than confirming the store would close.
"We're closing, but I can't really say any more," Mr. Hill said. The store, which sells seeds, bird seed, garden supplies, pet supplies, candy and more, is one of the longest-operating business in Kentucky.
The Hill family sold the business to Agri Bio Tech, a publicly traded corporation, several months ago.
Employees at the store said Friday they expected the Pike Street store to close by the first of the year, if not sooner.
Some kind of liquidation sale will probably be held, but it hasn't been announced.
"We just got our Christmas candy in," said a woman behind the counter who wouldn't give her name.
"I hope we're here to sell it all."
Just down the block from the store is Beers Business Forms & Printing. Treasurer Greg Beers said he'll miss Hills.
"It's a great place, a very unique place," Mr. Beers said Friday afternoon. "You can find some unusual stuff there."
Mr. Beer's 6-year-old son, Kevin, has a lingering sinus problem. A doctor recommended a homemade remedy of canning salt, baking soda and water.
"We couldn't find canning salt anywhere, but sure enough Hills had it," Mr. Beers said.
"That's the first place I should have looked."
