Campaigning To Empty Stores

Dated September 18th, The Paul’s pre-end-of-the-month campaign advertisement holds little substance. As usual, we could have lived without this mailing as his media compatriots have already published this press release “article” and will probably run it again anyway. In it, he bemoans the Crossroads Shopping Center on Rt 119 and the possibility of a new supermarket and how many of you have decried the need for a supermarket. Thanks to The Paul, it’s gotten so supermarket barren in Greenburgh, we’ve taken up learning Korean just so we can shop knowledgeably at HMart, the replacement Korean market at the former Pathmark site on Central Avenue.

While The Paul claims to have no hand in the demise of the A&P at Crossroads Shopping Center, most residents in the neighborhood have been reduced to shopping for staple goods at the $1 Store and K-Mart. The Paul claims he had nothing to do with the A&P’s disappearance in Crossroads. The Paul claims he wasn’t responsible for the double-digit tax increases for driving away the A&P, as well as the other stores. The Paul claims he wasn’t was responsible for the 102% water bill increases driving away the A&P. Have you noticed how much water is used cleaning meat, fish, deli, produce and dairy departments each day? It’s no wonder these seemingly innocuous taxes would promote the demise of many businesses – and residents – in our Town!

Let’s not forget about other contributing factors when doing business in Greenburgh. Factors such as required insurances, rent, salaries, OSHA requirements, local taxes, county taxes, state taxes and federal taxes, estimated tax, the union contracts and theft to mention a few things before a tenant even puts a key in the door. The increasingly widespread low income of area residents are struggling to hold onto their homes while financially challenged, don’t own transportation and must walk or take a bus to go to a supermarket for what they need. How much can they purchase and easily return home?

Soon however, residents will be able to get all their party needs at the new Party City, even though they must go to a different location for everything else for their party. The Paul’s campaign piece states that, “Party City is under construction in the former Barnes & Noble space and has targeted early December 2012 for a grand opening.” This is good news for that space and the shopping center. Let’s just hope the ever-billing, always-requiring Town Building Department, along with his ever-taxing Stepford Board, doesn’t hold up the grand opening because a $200 permit fee wasn’t paid and they miss the holiday party season, only to open to an empty store.

The Paul’s campaign piece touches on the struggling economy and tenants filing for bankruptcy, such as A&P, Marty Shoes, Jembro (still in business, just not in Greenburgh), T-Mobile, Barnes & Noble Bookseller and Avenue. He doesn’t go too far back as he tries to paint the picture, again ignoring the aforementioned contributing factors to these businesses’ demise. He doesn’t mention Pergament, Caldor, or the previous Party Store that left the current Home Goods site. And, as if Crossroads doesn’t need more competition, he doesn’t mention the new Sports Authority that will be going into the site of the former Sym’s store across from the Greenburgh Library. We still like and shop at Modell’s Sports store, but how long can they last with competition right around their proverbial corner?

The Paul claims the leasing staff at Heyman Properties, and Arcadia REIT are working hard to find interested tenants. Why he has failed to advertise for a supermarket on his blog, which has had apparent success finding a tenant for the formerly uninhabitable  Frank’s Nursery site? Partnered with the environmental knowledge Town Attorney Tim Lewis seems to have for environmental cleanup and related costs, perhaps Attorney Lewis can assist The Paul in adjusting for the square footage issues we’re told is the reason the former A&P space is not rentable to supermarkets.

There are reasons that brick and mortar businesses fail. Sometimes it’s the business model, the products offered, outside factors, poor management (our Town?), as well as other factors. With the County and State offering concessions to so many businesses to (re)locate or just stay in our area, perhaps it’s time for The Paul to do the same. Here’s a few ideas that may make tenancy more viable in Greenburgh. First, make the certiorari adjustments before the business opens and keep it in place for at least five years. As an aside, the new Stop and Shop on Rt 119 applied for their certiorari grievance the first day they opened their door and got it. Second, waive the permit fees required for any business trying to open in the Town. If not waiving them, at least combine all of them into one more manageable one. Third, have the building department assign an inspector to work closely with the prospective tenant to facilitate renovation work and not delay work, ensuring opening the store for business as projected. Fourth, work with the owners of the property to facilitate the opening as well as a long-term, economically viable relationship for both. Frankly, we don’t think The Paul is capable here and should utilize Tim “The Magic Attorney” Lewis for this.

There are other ideas ABG has but realizes good ideas are rarely embraced by the Town administration. The Fairview area residents and businesses are being crippled by The Paul and his Stepford Board. It’s time for The Paul and his Stepford Board to go. It’s time for The Paul’s campaign mailings ($2,000 Mailings or AAA Rating?) to stop. We can only hope.