Patty or Susan from the Old World Market, have a lot to worry about. It seems they may be forced to move, (or go out of business) and their building might get demolished to make room for a Central Park expansion. The community and public have not been made aware of this endeavor. And, this has not been mentioned at any City Council meeting yet. After this article was written, the Mayor’s office made a corrective statement.
Old World Market has been Valparaisoโs premiere cheese, specialty food and wine source since the year 2000. Owned and managed by a team of food lovers with extensive experience in the culinary world, they are home to Northwest Indianaโs original charcuterie box and grazing table! Shoppers loved Old World for their unique imported meat and cheese, or the perfect bottle of wine. They also carry an array of pastas, imported items, olive oils, antipasti, and house-made salads (Or should we use past tense?). They have a premium location across from the Porter County Courthouse on the southwest corner of the Courthouse Square at Washington and Indiana Ave. Washington Street is the official Gateway to Downtown Valparaiso, and a lot travelers on Highway 30 take Washington Street to get to the downtown Valparaiso shopping district.
Jesse Harper, Local Township Trustee, has been vocal about this new disruption in the Downtown District. โI believe the expansion of Central Park in downtown is the wrong project and certainly the wrong time. Change, growth and expansion, are not the only ingredients for a recipe to make a city dynamic. Often times itโs important to preserve and protect what made the city dynamic in the first place,โ stated Jesse. “The recent passage of Indiana SB1 tax relief bill will cause a great strain on municipalities’ budgets,” he continued.
Taking down small businesses in this fashion is not unusual for the City of Valparaiso. During the process of building โthe Lincโ Garage and โThe Lincโ Condominiums, the city took out nine Businesses, many of whom were closed or are still suffering from unforeseen losses caused from them being forced out and demolishing buildings they were housed .
All of the following businesses were forced to close that used to be on Lincolnway:
* Cafรฉ 306, (Closed permanently, has never has recovered from the loss and expenses of moving, remodeling expenses already incurred, and Installing a BRAND NEW Full Service Kitchen for the first time at this location)
* Round the Clock Restaurant (Closed permanently)
* Newly Opened Art Gallery (Closed Permanently)
* Valparaiso International Center (Still does not have a location โ meets at a local church – produces the Annual World Cultural Festival)
* Mr. CopyRite Print Shop, (still in debt from the move and the new remodeling that was torn down, and from the loss and expenses of moving a printing company)
* Valparaiso Tatoo Collective (Moved To to 755 W. Lincolnway, torn down Aug 2022)
* Vapin N Valpo (already had a 2nd location 827 E. Lincolnway)
* Bucher Technologies (moved to another location in Valparaiso)
* A Ladies Boutique Shop Called the Revolution (Facebook Link) (out of business for 4 months and just re-opened on North Calumet Ave)
* Biruh’s Kitchen (Facebook Link)
Mr. Copyright, a woman owned business, had just gotten a bank loan for a massive remodeling of the front of the Print shop at the old location. The money they were paid barely paid for the cost of moving the printing presses alone. They are sill paying on the loan for the remodeling that was barely used before it was torn down. Stop in and say Hi to Diane at 1708 East Lincolnway, Suite B.
Cafรฉ 306 had just installed itโs entire restaurant complete with a brand new kitchen, a separate room, kitchen sinks, and all new walls, floors and ceilings. They were barely paid enough to pay for moving out their big equipment, and Cafรฉ 306 has never re-opened. The loss was devastating and unrecoverable. The owner of Cafรฉ 306 was the previous partner in Maria Elenas, a popular restaurant near Valparaiso University that had unique family recipes that were served at Cafe 306. (In the photo you can see Mr. Copyright next to them)
Revolution Boutique, a woman owned business, sells clothing, jewelry, incense, vinyl records, glassart, crystals, and minerals. They have been closed for four months, and just re-opened at Valparaiso Revolution 2. They have 4.5 followers on Facebook, and 1,511 followers on Instagram. They have recently opened at 5410 N. Calumet Ave, after being closed for four long months with products in storage. Unfortunately, their new location is out of the typical shopping areas. Stop in and see what they have to offer. Visit them on Facebook or Instagram. Their new location is not as accessible as it was on downtown Valparaiso on the corner or Morgan and Lincolnway, and their customer traffic is suffering a great deal.
What Happens to these Small Businesses?
It turns out, during this process, we have discovered that the โlandlordโ gets paid huge sums of money from the city, and the business โtenantsโ get a mere penance, not enough to even pay for moving expenses, let alone the difficulties involved with finding a new location as well as having a new address, loss of income, and costs of moving.
A Business Move can have problems and Unforeseen Expenses with Business Continuity and Several Operational Disruptions:
- Moving can cause a temporary halt or significant disruption to business operations, leading to lost productivity and revenue. Beyond the obvious moving expenses, there are hidden costs like lost productivity, potential loss of customers, and training new employees. Managing the logistics of packing, transportation, and setup in the new location can be a significant challenge. Businesses may need to adjust to a new market, competition, and cultural differences.Customer Relationship Maintenance: A move can disrupt customer relationships, especially if it involves a change in address or business name.
- Technology and Systems Transfer: Moving IT systems, equipment, and data can be complex and require careful planning to avoid disruptions.
- Budget Limitations: Relocating on a tight budget can limit the size of the new office space and the types of services that can be offered.
- Customer Retention: Implement strategies to retain existing customers, such as providing discounts or special offers.
Customer Impact: Plan for potential customer loss and implement strategies to retain existing clientele, such as advertising and promotions
Supply Chain Issues: Assess potential disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chains, including changes in supplier locations or relationships.
Our Conclusion:
While progress can be an improvement in the long run, it shouldnโt take place on the backs of hard working small business owners that put their heart, soul, and money into their passionate business entities. โWe believe that these businesses should be compensated for all the expenses, and should be able to document their expenses for reimbursement.โ
OUR SUGGESTION:
Furthermore, it is our suggestion that the City take out Lafayette street, to gain more room. After all, it’s closed most of the time anyway, and it won’t disrupt any traffic flow to remove the street entirely.
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
