Floods have claimed another downtown business staple

LYNDON — Floods have claimed another downtown business staple. In a statement on Saturday, The Village Sport Shop announced it is exiting the ski industry and closing its flagship store at 511 Broad St. after two major floods in two years. It is the second downtown business to permanently close after a historic flood submerged a half-mile section of Broad Street on July 11, the other being The Miss Lyndonville Diner. The Village Ski Shop opened its Broad Street location as an outdoor sports retailer in 1978. Co-owner Chris Hibshman, the son of founder John Hibshman, said the decision to close the original store and cease ski sales was a difficult one.