Joseph & Kenney

* 1967-1988
* 1988-2011
* 2011-

The **Joseph & Kenney** Store ( often shortened to **J&K** , Originally named **Goode and Kenney** / **G&K** ) is a small store located on Godred ST in Suddery. It is known for selling gardening related items aswell as plants.

## History

### Founding

Two Sudric Business Men, Joseph Richard Goode and Thomas Kenney met up at a bar in the (at the time) small town of Tidmouth during the spring of 1965. The two men where there for a business trip (as the two worked in the same company at that time), but something caught their eye. The Tidmouth of the time was bustling with small shops of all shapes and sizes, and this gave them an idea.

The two men were both raised in small countryside towns on the east of Sodor, ( Killaban and Cabalnoo respectfully ) and were both gardeners in their younger years. This past experience coupled with their events in Tidmouth gave them an idea, opening their very own store. They argued over it, but eventually decided on Suddery as the town to choose. Their reasoning was that, as Kenney's Uncle lived there, and owned a small plot of land near the town centre.

After about two years of planning, meeting with architects, and building, the store had opened. At the time named **Goode and Kenney** ( or simply G&K ).

### The First 10 Years

The store had some small success on opening day, with the amount of customers slowly going down afterwards. It was a time of constant change, with both Kenney and Goode contributing their own changes. After these many changes, the amount of costumers slowly came back to that of the opening day.

During summer of 1971, mostly thanks to good deals and decisions by Goode, the store reached an all out high in yearly costumers , a record that the store would not beat for the following 7 years. Kenney, who had planned to straight up retire from the business previously (due to the great stress, that he could not handle at the time), was convinced by this success and decided to stay.

The high of '71 was never quite reached again, and in May 1974, Goode suffered a stroke that left him unable to perform managerial task of the store. He eventually managed to send a letter to Kenney, officially giving him managerial duties over the store.

### Kenney's 5 Years

With Kenney alone at the wheel, with he began to do some changes. First off he began his process into making G&K a part time hardware store, believing that it would bump up sales, and while it would take some time, this choice eventually paid off.

During this time , Kenney also began to donate around 40% of the store earnings to a local charity, believing that it was what Goode would have done. Due to this, Kenney gained a reputation with the locals as a kind and giving man. Many started calling him "Tommy" , and eventually this new nickname stuck, with Kenney's letters after 1977 being signed with "Tommy K.". At the end of his 5 years in charge, around $60,000 were donate to around three charities around the Brendam Peninsula.

### The Return of Goode

In September 1979, Goode returned , finally being in good health and became the store main manager once more. His first move was to remove the hardware store aspect of G&K completely, believing it to be a waste of money. This short sighted decision led to a lack of money coming into 1980, and with Goode fearing that he would have to lower the amount given to charity that year, but Kenney had an idea.

Thus the first annual "Suddery Charity Fair" or S.C.F was held in June 1980. While the fair was small in size, and few attended, it still managed to raise around 150$.

The store ran through the 80's with barely any changes, with Goode temporarily taking breaks and Kenney replacing him. In July 1987 the store reached its highest point since 1971, with its success staying relatively the same through out the late 80's and 90's. In fact, many of the same practices used during this time are still used to this day. In 1988, still at an all time high, the logo of the store was also updated, with a green circle and a field of flowers being added. Many citizens of Suddery still remember the 1990's G&K store, as during this time, it became a main stay of the Town.

### The Problems of a New Millennium

By 2002, the store was in dire need of a complete overhaul. With plenty of money to do so, Goode and Kenney decided to finally change the original design of the store, although not by much. While the store was expanded by a slight bit (especially on the right hand side), much of the outside, and especially the inside stayed the same. This was intended by Kenney, as he wanted the look of the store to remain. The amount of money brought by the store annually, however, did not change despite the renovation.

Compared to the previous decade, the 2000's brought heavy changes. Firstly, the stores profits fell dangerously low, falling to an all time low in 2006, a fall that the store has still not fully recovered from. To add insult to injury, the now 69 year old Goode was starting to suffer from medical issues. Leaving Kenney once again alone at the wheel. Kenney would eventually receive help from his brother (Edwin S. Kenney) and his first born son (Phillip Kenney; aged 39 at the time). Eventually by 2007, Goode's condition got so bad he was unable to even work, and was forced to retire in May 2007. Now Kenney had to step up to the wheel, permanently. A job he was not ready in the slihgtness to take on.

By November 2007, Kenney had practically given all the leadership duties to his son, Phillip. His health was starting the go down hill aswell, and while he did work at the store as he had always done, it was considerably less than is his prime. By 2009, he was practically ready to retire.

#### The Death of Goode

On October 16th 2011, Goode and his long time friend , Howard A. Chester were on a trip by car to Alreburgh to attend a charity event. On way however, things took a turn for the worst. Goode had a heart attack in the middle of their journey, and while Howard did deliver him to the nearest hospital, the doctors weren't able to save him.

Following the death of Goode, in his honour, as his final action before retiring, Kenney changed the name of the company from "Goode & Kenney" to "Joseph & Kenney". Power over the company was transferred to Phillip soon after.

### Modern Day

Ever since 2011, the store has stayed rather stable and unchanging under Phillip, with the company equaling their all time high in 2019.

In 2017, the company helped pay for a small brass plaque on one of the walls of the store to honour Joseph Goode. It was sworn in by Thomas Kenney himself, as well as Phillip and Phillip's son Bill. Bill Kenney himself would become much more active with the store during the later half of 2019.