It's the end of an era for a Hamilton icon.

After a century in business at the corner of Barton and Wellington streets, Kenesky Sports is closing shop.

The store, kitty corner to Hamilton General Hospital, was sold to Ron Joyce in July. Owner Joel Hulsman said the Tim Hortons founder and philanthropist has plans to develop the land and an adjacent property into a multistorey medical building with retail space on the first floor.

While Joyce wouldn't confirm those details, he did say through an administrator for his foundation that "it is in process and the plans are being formed."

The project is not believed to be connected to Hamilton Health Sciences, where its newest building — a children's health centre just half a block away on Wellington — bears Joyce's name.

Although retail operations will wrap up at the end of this month, Kenesky's will continue to manufacture goalie pads and operate its popular hockey school. Some merchandise will also be available in stores as early as April.

Hulsman, who has worked at the shop for nearly half of its 100-year lifespan, said the decision to sell was driven, at least in part, by development in the area — a busy strip of Barton dotted with parking lots, takeout joints and medical supply stores.

"No one comes downtown shopping anymore," he said. "Everyone stays on the hill, and, you know what? It's getting harder and harder to make money in this industry because everyone goes online now.

"It's time. Get out while you're ahead. That's my motto."

However, that's not to say it was an easy choice.

"I cry every day," Hulsman said candidly. "It's been the best 48 years of my life."

Founded in 1915, Kenesky's is a Hamilton institution made famous by Emil "Pop" Kenesky, who made the first leather goalie pads. They were the go-to for NHL netminders for decades, with everyone from Jacques Plante to Johnny Bower wearing Pop's pads.

Over the years, many of the greats dropped into the shop to say hello and sign their names on a wall on the upper floor. Some, like Hamilton's Ray Emery, even visited with the Stanley Cup.

Hulsman said the wall will be removed and donated to the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame when the shop closes, while the big sign out front will go to John Pellizzari at United Trophies.

Much of the other memorabilia will end up at home with him.

Garry McKay, a member of the hall's board of directors, said he's sad to see the store go — "it's so much a part of Hamilton's sport history." However, his organization is thrilled with Hulsman's gift.

"We think it would make a great display," he said — possibly in a storefront with some of Pop's old pads and some photos. "Where that's going to go, we don't know yet."

In the short term the artifact will be placed in storage, McKay said

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