Up in Smoke...

The Grand Terrace Smoke Shop is trying to get public information out on the reason he has not moved to make way for the Owner of the property to Re Develop the property.

Hearing his side as presented should add additional questions to the issue.

When he signed the lease with the prior owner, was there a clause that said all leases would be null and void is property is sold. Just because he had a lease and thinks he extended it is not a lease with the new owner.

If the new owner said, hey you can stay but stay knowing that at anytime in the future I will be redeveloping the area and you'll have to move.... that is part of the stores new reality. Upon such notice the store owner should have been in move mode. Waiting it out to the last minute makes for bad business.

This is still a contract dispute and should be resolved between parties and the court if required but it is not I repeat NOT a City or Civic Issue.

There are other places to rent in Grand Terrace. The rents or lease may not be as cheep, but the cheep rent was due to the age of the building and the reality that the building was only a temporary location which was going to meet the wrecking ball sooner if not later.

Perhaps the old Doctor's Office on Barton Rd could house the Smoke Shop. Odd Idea... but too close to SDA Church I would bet. There are shops on La Cross in Colton that would give him Freeway Sign Visibility but these too may be short term if the 215 is expanded/improved. The old Tom's Lawn Mower Shop.

There is a high possibility that the shop owner is not looking to relocate, but to cash in and retire out of what ever he can get. Smoking and Smoke Shops pardon the Pun are like a Cancer on our Community. Many property owners will not lease to them as Smoking in the building permeates the other businesses.