Western New York finally has its first UPS Store fully owned by a Black family.
According to WKBW Buffalo, that store is located at 345 Broadway in Buffalo and is owned by the father and son-team of Dr. Uzo Ihenko and Kelechi Chillis-Ihenko. They offer the typical services (shipping, deliveries) with the bonus of offering fingerprinting services.
“Growing up in Buffalo there’s always a lack of essential services and things like that and I’ve experienced that growing up so being the one to fill that need is awesome,” said Chillis-Ihenko, who graduated with an MBA.
Residents are happy that the UPS Store is in the area.
“It’s an asset,” said Raquel Gibson, according to WKBW Buffalo. “We don’t have to go far, it’s needed. I’m glad that we have this business and it’s awesome. I’m hoping that it brings more businesses like this here because they’re needed.”
Ihenko feels the store will help grow the business community.
“People are seeing the future in their life and other business will copy and then other jobs will come,” Uzo said. “A lot of hospitals they send people here for fingerprinting so if you want to do any investigative work in terms of background information right here is where it’s done.”
The owners of the store also mentioned that the back of the building will soon become residential apartments.
“It’s going to be workforce apartments so it’s affordable for people to live here,” saidChillis-Ihenko. “And we’re going to have office space and potentially a coworking space for other entrepreneurs to come to the building and grow their businesses.”
The store is open Monday to Friday: from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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