The Tonawanda News announced Thursday it will cease publication as of January 31. The newspaper says economic conditions have made the operation unsustainable. Twenty employees are being affected by the shutdown, which includes both the print version and the website. Subscribers who paid in advance will be issued refunds.
The Tonawanda News, which primarily caters to the northern Buffalo suburbs, was founded in 1880. It has been publishing its print version five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday.
“Revenue from advertising and circulation simply could not sustain the operation,” Publisher Chris Voccio said in a statement on the newspaper's website.
“The company tried everything possible to stabilize and grow the paper but it eventually became an impossible goal.”
The group that owns the paper says its two other publications, the Niagara Gazette and the Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, will continue their operations.