Get to know father and son duo, Dr. Uzo Ihenko and Kelechi Chillis-Ihenko. They own the first family black-owned UPS store in Western New York. The business is located at 345 Broadway and has become the hub for many in the area.
“It’s an asset,” Raquel Gibson, a resident, told WKBY. “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.”
Uzo Ihenko and Kelechi Chillis-Ihenko established the shipping and delivery store when Chillis-Ihenko, a graduate with an MBA, wanted to stay in Buffalo to help serve his community.
“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 the son.
On his part, Uzo Ihenko noted that his family business is really helping people in the area. “People are seeing the future in their life and other business will copy and then other jobs will come,” he said.
Uzo Ihenko and his son’s UPS location performs fingerprinting services aside from shipping, delivery, and printing papers. “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,” Uzo Ihenko said.
In the near future, he revealed that the back of the UPS store will become apartments. According to him, it is going to be affordable apartments targeting people who live in Western New York.
“It’s going to be workforce apartments so it’s affordable for people to live here,” said Chillis-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.”
Meanwhile, Chillis-Ihenko said the secret to their success is people first before business. “If you’re not people first the people aren’t going to support you,” he said. “So you want to have anything you do be people-focused so that will help you be successful in business.”
Uzo Ihenko revealed that the family plans to stay along Broadway for generations to come. He noted that the family has become an integral part of the community.
