Business : Vinton to lose local support and landmark

If you enter Vinton from the south, you can see a huge American flag flying and you know that's where John's Qwik Stop is located. Unfortunately for Vinton, things will be changing at the end of the year. 

John Ketchen has prided himself, and rightly so, in the ability to have been a local business that supported his community. It has been a privilege for Ketchen to have been able to meet the requests of several in the community. "We have never turned down a single request in 27 years," said Ketchen. Assisting the Vinton Parks & Rec Department, Virginia Gay Hospital, Vinton-Shellsburg Community Schools, Vinton Palace and too many extracurricular activities to remember, it is with a heavy heart that Ketchen announced on Wednesday afternoon his plans to sell John's Quick Stop.

Ketchen said that A&W will be closing at the end of the month and the Godfather's chain will be closing in the 3rd week of December. Ketchen also would like to encourage residents to use up any gift cards for the car wash and patron points that they might have before the end of the year.

Ketchen said, "Vinton has been a great community and I've been glad to have been part of it. Unfortunately, the time has come to step away from the business."

Plans are underway for Casey's General Store to take over ownership sometime in early 2023.