By Lori Bledsoe
For The Alpine Sun

     ALPINE — Long time Alpine Creek Center business owners, such as Alpine Video, Head East, Radio Shack and others, feel they are under attack by Westcore Properties, which is in the process of remodeling the center to make way for improvements that will include a Longs Drugs.
     Last week, when plans for the center were finally released at the Alpine Planning Group Meeting, Tom Adam of Nadel Architects commented that all the current businesses that desired to stay in the complex would be accommodated. However, current businesses that have expiring leases are not being offered renewals.
Laurie Hallahan, owner of State Farm Insurance, said she was not offered renewal of her lease and has relocated to an office behind Janet’s Café at 2514 Alpine Blvd.
     Radio Shack plans to close its doors in July, per a notice that is posted in its window, and is asking customers to make future visits to the company’s Los Coches location. 
     Curves’ lease is coming to an end in January and its owners are planning to deal with possible relocation at that time.
     Other businesses, such as Alpine Massage Therapy and the Friends of the Alpine Library bookstore have month-to-month arrangements, and haven’t been notified in any way.
     When the center’s businesses were interviewed, none of the business owners could relate any pertinent information on the future plans for their establishments. When Westcore was contacted by The Alpine Sun, spokeswoman Gina St. Aubin refused comment. Her response was simply, “I can’t comment on that right now, but maybe if you call me back in two months...”
     This lack of communication and information from the property management company is very frustrating to the business owners. Most say they have no information at all in respect to what they need to do to continue doing business. 
     According to Bill Ferris, owner of the Postal Annex, “Nobody really knows anything.” He said that the only information he gets is in the form of rumors.
     Among the rumors is that Westcore only wants corporate business occupying the center’s shops. Ferris said the corporate businesses are easier to deal with than the mom and pop shops that are currently occupying space.
Mary Jane Fitzsimmons, owner of Alpine Video, also related this rumor and added that she had heard that Starbucks would be occupying the vacant bank building. 
     Starbucks Customer Service Representative Dan Malarkey, however, said in a telephone call that the only Starbucks facility currently slated for Alpine is the as-yet-unbuilt commercial lot at Alpine Boulevard and South Grade. He said he had nothing in his paperwork about a Starbucks being installed at Tavern Road. 
     While the rumors are floating around, business is being affected. Ferris said that his business has dropped approximately 20 percent since January, with the loss of the pharmacy and the Hallmark shop last year. 
He said he feels that the renovation will be a good change for the center, but without information, no one really knows what he or she is doing. Ferris said, “Change is good but it’s got to happen soon. We’re in limbo.”
     Head East Salon owner Joanie Truttman said she has had a progressively worsening battle with the company. She said she has struggled to get a handle on the truth about where her business will be placed, and has even retained legal counsel. However, confirmation from any knowledgeable source seems impossible especially with St. Aubin’s refusal to respond.
     But Truttman said she isn’t ready to give up yet. She has a lease that expires in 2008 and is willing to go to battle.
“I’ve had my business for nine years and I’m going to fight for my lease, I know my rights.” Truttman said. “My business will go on, even though I’ve been put through hell for the last year and a half. It’s about the principle now.”
Mary Jane Fitzsimmons, owner of Alpine Video, has had a tiger by the tail as well.
     When she tried to get conformation about the Longs project, she was told not to worry about anything. She informed then-property manager Mike Schmidt, who no longer works with Westcore, that the Longs Drugstore would violate her lease contract, as it would present conflict of merchandise. The contract that she has states that no other store in the center will offer competitive merchandise.
     Longs Drugs sells both videos and DVDs.
     She said she was told at that time that her business would not be impacted, and then received a letter a week later stating that her lease was not being renewed.
     In March of this year, a contractor from Burger Construction entered her shop and began measuring the premises. When questioned about his actions, the contractor told one of the employees of Alpine Video that the shop was closing down and that the Postal Annex was being relocated there. This caused the employee to panic and move to other employment.
     Fitzsimmons said she is so frustrated with events that she scoffed at Adam’s comments saying, “They say anyone can stay but rents have been raised to a ridiculous amount.”
     Her shop is unique and family oriented. Alpine Video has been in business since the shopping center opened, yet her lease is not being renewed, and she said she has received no offer for relocation.
     Jeanine Buchanan, an employee at State Farm said that this is how the company’s property management company seems to be accomplishing its renovation.
     By not renewing leases, she said, Westcore can acquire space it needs for the renovation without costly evictions. And by staying unclear about how they are proceeding with their plans, business owners feel compelled to find other accommodations, relieving Westcore of responsibility for making them move.
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