HUTCHINSON, Kan. — William Long, owner of Long’s, says he plans to retire and close the business in the next couple of months.

A going-out-of-business sale started Tuesday. Long talked about the legacy of the store in Hutchinson.

“Dad started the store in 1946. It would be 73 years the first part of December,” Long said.

Now, many may wonder if the decision to close was because of lack of sales. Long says that is not the case. He says the closing of chain stores like Dillard’s, JCPenney, Target and Sears has helped business.

“We picked up business from all of that,” Long said. “Our business has continually grown and if business hadn’t been so good, I probably would have retired a couple of years ago.”

He estimates the going-out-of-business sale will last a couple of months and joked that he may take a trip over Christmas, something he hasn’t done in 50 years.