Community Give-Back to Your Kitchen

"You have given so much to the community for so many years. It's time for the community to give back to you." So said a fellow retailer as she encouraged me to set up this request.  (See community quotes in bold below.)

Your Kitchen Store, which I began 24 years ago, will close its doors this month with significant debt.  We have proudly served our community with excellence in merchandise, extraordinary customer service (helpful, knowledgable and friendly - a daily description from customers) and a huge commitment to the general well-being of our community. We have led by example. We have cooked weekly hot meals for the homeless, held fundraisers in our store for local charities, held food bank drives, donated time, talent, dollars and merchandise to schools, medical needs, theater and the arts, schools and school associated funtions, social and service clubs, animal cause, violence prevention, farmers markets an so much more - virtually every cause or need. Even as we close we are running a fundraiser for organ donor/transplant charity. We donated window space on Main St to a different non-profit every month.

For 24 years we have led the "shop local" movement, advocating in print and radio not only for ourselves, but my fellow independent retailers. Our tag line has always been, "Buying locally owned and locally grown builds a better community." We (I and my staff) have served our community.

All funds collected will go completely to retire debt. As my wife is blind and chronically ill (a love story, but that's a different matter), I am the sole provider. Retiring this debt will allow me to more comfortably move on to a new job and continue to care for my wife.

Below are some remarks from citizens, customers and industry insiders:

From sales reps and trade executives:
Your dedication to your community, staff and the industry has always set you apart. You are one of a kind Dean Eaton!

You have been and are one of the truly great relationships and stores in the country.

You are a class act and a great example of how to be.

You have given me and my team invaluable insight into the gourmet kitchen store channel. Your imprint on customers, vendors and retailing peers is indelible. A lifetime All-Star. Plus you're just a darned good guy.

Your Kitchen Store will always be remembered by those in the know as a sterling example of a very special independent Kitchen Store.

From customers:

Thank you for being the BEST kitchern store on the planet!

You've been an example of all that is best in local owned business and also what is so special about the Monadnock region.

The store brought a vitality that had all but disappeared.

This will leave such a hole in the Keene community.

You have set an incredible example for the entire community.

...a major impact on the vital business environment of the downtown Keene area.

To shop at your store made us proud to be a part of our community. 

Thank you for your dedication to the community and for running such a wonderful store.

It's been a jewel for Keene and there are no words for how much it will be missed.

For those of you who have read this far and have been moved to give, I accept it as a gift of love and thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart. 

Grace and Peace to you all.

Dean J Eaton