Small businesses to fight a big battle
“Community” is a vibrant, diverse people who share a likeness — be it a social characteristic or locale — and a bond. “Community” is to have one another’s backs and strengthen each other’s voice come hardships.
And for several small businesses in Denver’s Mayfield neighborhood, community is their only hope.
“Small businesses maintain a sense of community, and community has value and character,” says Blake Carlson, manager of the Little Dragon, a Chinese restaurant located at the Mayfair Plaza off of 13th and Krameria St. “A lot of young people are moving back to urban areas for that — the small, unique businesses and artisan shops. They see the value, and they don’t want to live in suburbia.”
Little Dragon is one of the small, independent businesses that line the southeast side of the King Soopers between 13th and14th at Krameria. In addition to the restaurant, the strip is home to a postal center, nail salon, hair salon, day care center, and cell phone store. Some of these businesses, such as Postal Centers USA, have been in their lots for almost 20 years. But the future of all of these neighborhood shops hang in jeopardy; King Soopers, which holds the master lease for all surrounding stores, is planning a major expansion project that would wipe out the strip.
King Soopers says their goal is to better serve the demands of their neighborhood, expanding the store to include, per a letter sent to City Council by King Soopers spokesperson Kelli McGannon, “[more] natural and organic
, fresh prepared meals, a wellness center, and drive-thru pharmacy.” King Soopers has already acquired the two-story dentist office that sat next door.“We were told we would get a new roof, and that the shops would get a ‘facelift,’” says Mimi Chan, owner of Little Dragon. “We were not told anything about the lease-out.”
Chan, who has made a six-figure investment in her restaurant, says that upon signing her initial lease two years ago, she was verbally assured by King Soopers that she could continue to renew her lease through “at least 2019.” Now, she says, the business owners have all been told that they will be out by April 2015. Chan isn’t the only one who recently put a considerable amount of money into her business — Theit Nguyen, owner of the neighboring nail salon, completely remodeled his store a couple of years ago.
“And,” Nguyen adds, “[Daycare center] KidsTown just got a $7,000 paint job. We didn’t know anything.”
“King Soopers is just not being transparent with us or the community,” asserts Shambe Abdul, the owner of Postal Centers USA. Abdul shares that it was only through a Facebook post that he first learned of King Soopers’ plans, and communication has not improved much since. “They are telling me to move and not to move. Why look for another space, and why pay for another space, if we can ultimately stay?”
Abdul also expresses concerns over uprooting his customers. He leases out mailbox spaces to many residents in the Mayfair neighborhood, and says finding a location in the area that is still convenient to his patrons will be a daunting task. In the largely residential area, there is not much prime real estate for small business owners.
“There are not a lot of spaces available,” Chan laments. “You can’t just pack up and leave. Rebuilding a business, and customer base, takes a lot of time.”
These small businesses have, indeed, established a significant customer base in the Mayfair area, and among their valued patrons and friends are many
LGBT people.
“I have a lot of [LGBT people] as customers. We serve them just as much as they serve us,” shares Abdul. “All of these stores are minority-owned, and they are a minority just like us. I think there is a lot of overlap and understanding.”
Chan is also a fierce friend of the LGBT community.
“Four of my delivery drivers are gay,” she says, before stating that many of her most loyal customers are also LGBT.
Ultimately, Chan, Abdul, Carlson, Nguyen, and all of the other business owners and staff at Mayfair Plaza ultimately hope a deal will be struck that allows them to keep their doors open, serving the community they have come to love and cherish. But they fear, going up against big business, the odds are not in their favor.
“It’s discouraging; you’re probably better off buying a lottery ticket,” Chan says. “But with community on our side, hopefully we can do something.”
The businesses have created a petition that will be sent to all relevant parties; it is currently 3,000-signatures strong and counting. To sign the petition, please visit any of the stores on the strip along 13th and Krameria. Anyone concerned may also write to Mayfair’s City Council representative Mary Susman at marybeth.susman@denvergov.org.
