Order to move out shocks shop owners in strip mall
When a drugstore chain opts to put a store on the site of a strip mall, small businesses must move. And soon.
By ANNE LINDBERG
Published October 17, 2004
PINELLAS PARK - At a tiny strip mall called Plaza 102, six mom and pop business owners recently found a disheartening note on their doors: Get out by month's end.
"Everybody was pretty shocked. It was not a good day," said Juanita Bloniarz, who owns a dog grooming business called Grooming Paws with her husband in Plaza 102, 6550 102nd Ave. N.
"It's like being fired from your job. (You wonder) what'd we do to deserve that?"
"It just doesn't seem the people here were treated the right way by anybody," said Neal Hennigar, a co-owner of American Wheelchair, at a meeting last week with Pinellas Park Mayor Bill Mischler and other city officials.
"The whole thing stinks," Hennigar added of the notes that were posted on Oct. 7.
At Grooming Paws, the owners for more than 16 years had catered to animal lovers who brought their Lhasa apsos, Shih Tzus, poodles and cats to be bathed and primped.
By holding prices low, they have built up a steady clientele, many of whom are elderly. They've developed a chummy relationship and shared customers with the other five businesses at the strip mall. They're not sure where they're going to go yet.
At first, business owners thought to find a set of six storefronts so they could stay together. But that has proved impossible, said Bloniarz.
All that's about to end now that drugstore giant CVS wants to build a new pharmacy on top of their businesses.
The business owners are crying foul. Grooming Paws is adorned with protest notices: "Being tossed out for CVS" and "Help save our business, complain to CVS" are two. The third - "Being thrown out for CVS" - is also posted on other storefronts.
CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis said CVS is planning to build on that property. But the chain will be leasing the land and any dealings with current tenants would be between them and the developer or current property owner.
Mark Gravley of the developer, Gryboski, Howe and Gravley, did not return a phone message asking for comment.
But Tom Shevlin, Pinellas Park assistant city manager, said he spoke with Gravley, who said the developer has no interest in giving folks a longer time to find new premises.
Although store owners were shocked by the notice to leave, they were not totally blindsided. As leases ended, they were not renewed in writing. Rumors had been flying for months. And Pinellas Park had posted and published notices of public hearings over the changes to come.
Some did not see the city notices. Others talked with property owner Angela Georgiadis, who they say reassured them they had nothing to fear, that if the property sold, they'd have plenty of time to move.
" "I wouldn't do that to you guys,' is exactly what she said," said Eugene Dorio, owner of the Lauren Anthony hair styling salon.
Georgiadis could not be reached for comment.
Dean Going, owner of DJ's Grille, thought he was protected. Unlike the others, Going still had a lease and a right of first refusal should the property be sold. Going has hired an attorney and declined to comment about the situation.
But his mother, Sarah Going, said the restaurant already has been hurt by the rumors. A few months ago, it took seven people to make sure hungry customers were served during the lunch hour. Now, it just takes three.
"The effect over the past couple of months has just about put us out of business," Mrs. Going said.
Relocating will cost even more.
Mary Stevenson moved her salon, the Hair Connection, to 7205 49th St. N in Pinellas Park. She made the move while the winds of Hurricane Jeanne swirled over Pinellas County. Stevenson, a Seminole resident, said she started looking after representatives from a business program sponsored by the city, county and chamber of commerce came in to help.
"I wanted to get out of there because I didn't want to pay another month's rent," Stevenson said.
Since then, she has struggled with lack of power after the storm and a loss of customers from the change. Some of her elderly customers just can't drive the extra few miles.
"It seems like the little person just doesn't stand a chance," Stevenson said.
Still, she feels lucky to have found a place.
"Thank goodness I did what I did," Stevenson said.
