When you're a small business, do you have more or less rights than the big box stores? If you own two business, do your rights double? If you're a sole proprietor does that mean you have less rights than a business with an LLC?
Recently a friend rented a space on a corner lot in a small town in Southwest Missouri. She was so excited to have the space she wanted with the light streaming in. Less than a month later, she got neighbors on each side of her, with her in the middle.
It soon became clear that they wanted to run her out so they could have her space. They started out by having the storage area she was given taken away.
It came down to numbers and money. They brought in double the rent so it appeared the landlord was making concessions to them. As soon as the weather warmed up, they opened up their ice cream store and put their tables in front of my friend's windows. If that wasn't enough they decided to start having "garage sales" on my friend's sidewalk, to bring in more business. The final straw came when my friend was hosting an event at her place of business and placed a table outside on her sidewalk that she rents, just as they do. Her neighbors started a scene, demanded it be taken down and ended up throwing it.
At this point you wonder, why are they so territorial? My friend called the police to help settle this as she was also concerned at how violent and in your face this had gotten. When the police officer showed up, he listened and proceeded to tell her that times were hard and to share the space. My friend doesn't mind sharing the space, if they would let her use her space in the first place.When does it become right for one small business to push out another? Why would the landlord not set the rules on outside usage? Why would the landlord not abide by the lease-where it states tenants agree on shared outside space?
According to Missouri laws, when you rent a space, you also rent the parking and sidewalk usage as well.
Why can't the ice cream shop put their table in front of their own store instead of infringing on my friend's place of business?
When someone threatens you and you damages your stuff, why aren't the local police doing anything about it? Why did they refuse to let her file a police report?
The last straw was when my friend was in a session with a customer and the neighbors bared in screaming and yelling with obscenities thrown out . My friend had no choice and contacted a lawyer who drafted a letter to the landlord asking for her rights to use part of the outside space.
She got her response yesterday, you're out of your lease, move.
My friend put a lot of time and money into renovating her store and now the landlords will profit from it, and they know it. Where does it become fair in business to not abide by rules? Does a handshake mean anything anymore?
Sometimes in life you just want to cry. Unfair! Not Right! Why me?
Old Glory ice cream shop and Old Glory Antique shop in Southwest Missouri and Teresa's Photoworks. The small building nestled in is the photography studio, hard to see when her signage is blocked.
5 comments:
I know of the business cncerned...Teresa has bent over backwards to be nice...not them, demanding, rude, anything but professional business people. Teresa has invested alot of money into her first out of the home business site, her enjoyment of her new studio lasted one month, after working on it hard for 2 months. It has been a nightmare ever since....getting worst by the day...and she is only there hours a week...at this point I fear for her safety....it is truly a sad story on how unfair this young business owner has been treated by her landlords and her neighbors...it could have been a win win situation for all concerned...
I don't like the fact that I have to defend myself because of these imprudent remarks. This is over the fact that we rented the building nextdoor to the photo shop, the landlord was permiting Theresa "USE" the back portion of the store. She had a key to the store allowing access to our now rented area at any time of day or night. She used it after her items were out and we were moved in! We told the landlord that this was unacceptable. I asked Teresa "Why would you ever think that you could always use our space?" She said "Cause I never thought the building would rent." The sign in the front window FOR RENT call 417-... To compensate (or shut her up) her rent was lowered in order to rent a storage unit here in town.
Teresa USES the landlords sign that is on the side of the building it is 3' off the ground. A four year old could block it. We offered to help her move that sign to the roof where there are existing brackets and a spot light so the sign could be visable from the street. She refused... maybe she likes her pity party?
Not one person in our family business had ever had a cross word with her until her "EVENT" on Saturday. That Thursday she came to me and my daughter and said she would need parking because the town would be full of Lemo's because of the graduation photos that she was exspecting to take. We said "No problem .. we only do our parking lot sale on the second Saturday of the month as the whole town does. But what does she and her family do? At 1:00 am on Saturday they parked four cars simply for the purpose of blocking the access to our front door of the Parlor. We know the time because the Billings police saw them and wondered why they were down there at that time. We were unable to put our tables out, this made it unsafe for the customers because they had to walk out into HWY 60 to get around their cars to come to our front door. I waited until 11:00 am , then I knocked on the photo shop door and asked Teresa to please move her yellow car (that was blocking her sign and our passageway). She refused... I asked her again.. never using bad language because there was a child in the room. An hour and a half later she moved her car. The other three cars belonging to her family and friends were left parked on our rented lot for 24 hours. They intentionally parked there to jeopardize our buisness and the safty of our customers. Also the girls dressed in prom dress and heels had to walk to the photo shop from the alley way. The funny thin is "ONE" limo came that day at 5:00 pm had to park on the HWY because THEY blocked all the parking spots. She later admitted that she was just being "CHILDISH".
Our store is the only store on Washington street that moves everything inside at night. Billings is an Antique town and has been for years and years. The other stores opt to leave their items out all the time. That is charm of the town. Customers come from Arkansas, Oklahoma, St. Louis and Kansas City every weekend just for the shopping in our town.
The statement written by Anonymous that she fears for her life is uncalled for. No threats were ever made to her. Period! Therea's mother was screaming in my daughter's and my husband's face, we never instigated that negative situation. We were totaly horrified by their unbusiness like actions and attitudes of that day.
This is truly a sad story! Yes it could have been a win win situation because many of our customers sit at our tables with children, there they realize a photo shop is in our town.
I can't believe that anyone would use this site to verbaly abuse, SLANDER and bully another business. We have only tried to assit her with her signage and to be good neighbors.
We have been told many times that our Parlor is a great asset to the town. Visitors need a place to sit and rest due to the unlimited shopping. It only helps her business because we bring in customers that NEVER EVER would have walked down my sidewalk and seen her sign.
Ha!! Too Chicken Shit to post the truth. Shame on you Teresa! YOU KNOW THE TRUE STORY!
Why is that girl in a junk town if she thinks she is so much better than the town? Billings is great for what it is. Loved to see the Farmers Market in town. We supported the 4H and bought eggs.
Sounds like the Photoworks girl is a selfish person and would prosper if she joined in. She should move to Rodeo Dr.! LOL
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