Comments on: Kaleidoscope Boutique Closing

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:41:30 +0000

Okay, everybody, find Camille a new location with a landlord who will offer subsidized rent for two years!!

By: Camille

Camille — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:57:44 +0000

ABSOLUTELY!!

By: Nelliebelle1197

Nelliebelle1197 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:14:09 +0000

Camille, would finding cheaper space be a way to save the business?Just wondering.

By: Camille

Camille — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:30:31 +0000

The majority of commerical real-estate in Decatur is owned by 2 landlords. One of them is a resident of Decatur and is concerned about what goes on in Decatur. The other one (ours) isn’t. The leaders in Decatur have been trying to put pressure on the landlords to be more accomodating with the tenants. The average decatur resident has nooo idea the ridiculous amount of money we (retailers) have to pay in rent. It just makes it REALLY hard to stay in business. It’s really heartbreaking to see your dream dissolve. When conditions get a bit better we’ll be back!!!!! We LOVE Decatur!

By: Bill Bibb

Bill Bibb — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:08:02 +0000

First, the businesses all pay a fair amount of ad valorem taxes. In addition, they generate sales taxes. The restaurants pay a liquor sales tax on top of this (I think). I don’t know how much of the city’s tax base is borne by the businesses, but I am fairly certain it is not insignificant. Of course, the ‘privately owned’ building owners pay a property tax. If the worst happened and that property went into foreclosure..well.. thats probably far fetched. Many of the business owners are Decatur residents. These are just the tangibles. The intangibles are incalculable. With all that being said, the city does an outstanding job in promoting the businesses and, if anything, things would probably be much worse without their leadership.