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Buzzy’s sale announcement perhaps premature
12/05/2014 11:24 AM by John M
Ned Oliver at Style has word that the planned sale of Buzzy’s to CHAT announced yesterday may have been a bit premature:
A spokesman for Buffington’s landlord, the Edison Company, says no one’s contacted him about a sale. “I would say this announcement was very premature,” said a man reached at a number for the company, who declined to identify himself by name because he “doesn’t want to be the bad guy.”
“Unfortunately, we’ve already got plans in the event that Bob decides to close Captain Buzzy’s,” he said. “This is an agreement we’ve had for a while.”
From this, I’m assuming The Young Entrepreneurs of Richmond Project never contacted the owner of Buzzy’s building or reviewed Buzzy’s current lease agreement. Bummer. I still hope something can be worked out.
Nothing unusual here….par for the course.
Well boo hiss to the landlord.
Really…. boo, hiss the landlord. In that case how dare the owner of the property have any rights or say in what happens to his own property. It’s much better for the neighborhood or complete strangers to tell an owner what he or she can’t do with their own property. We should also allow third parties to be rewarded for underhanded sneak attacks on business owners, like using the press to force a business owner’s hands or control public appeal. If no one contacted the building owner then why announce it if not to force his hand. After all no one wants to be seen as a person who goes against a charity, but come on this charity is clearing using underhanded tactics. Also, the owner said he had a past agreement, so why should he break his word on that agreement to reward someone who clearly doesn’t want to play by the rules? If anyone is at fault then CHAT is at fault.
… Why didn’t YERP do their homework before applying for the grant? That said, there are plenty of other buildings up here that could be renovated/put to a better use.
(Landlord) Karen Kellman has previously forewarned of the impending post-Buzzy’s plans for that location during the SUP battle…I can’t seem to located the exact post, but there is record of it somewhere.
So, this should be no surprise for anyone…except maybe the little CHAT kids : (
The landlord didn’t do anything wrong. How can a business and a building be sold without contacting and discussing with the owner of the real estate first?
This was the nature of the grant. The Robins Foundation told local non-profits to dream big…beyond their wildest dreams…something that would innovate and bring together community. So I think CHAT did dream big…inevitably there will be some fine print and details to work out, but in the end all things will come together for the good of the community. Personally, bringing an entrepreneurship program to Church Hill’s youth just makes sense to me. With the screenprinting and woodworking business CHAT already does, why not expand the customer service and hospitality element. It’s fascinating to think about. Looking forward to see how it all pans out!
I see opportunity here: the possibility of using a currenty VACANT storefront to further increase the retail density of the neighborhood. I’ve seen at least two on Venable Street available for rent…
Maybe the Robins people were a bit premature — it strikes me that CHAT’s not quite ready for prime time.
@5 Jeff: If you read the Style article, CHAT spokeswoman Caitlin Barnes says that Buffington wrote letters of support for them and spoke on behalf of the project. Sounds more like he should have told CHAT that he had an agreement with the landlord, and not that CHAT did anything wrong. Even his lawyer says that there have been discussions, just that they didn’t involve the landlord. I don’t think anyone was trying to do something underhanded.
@9 The building isn’t being sold, that was not part of the deal; the business (coffee shop and probably some or all contents) was the only part of the deal. Go back and read yesterday’s announcement, where John M. made that clear.
I’d be willing to bet that Buffington did the letter writing and speaking out because he thought he could make some money this way, and that was all he thought of, just selling the coffee shop business and contents.
@10, I agree with you, and hope it all works out for the best.
The amount of chaotic drama historically surrounding Buzzy’s is astounding. Few other Richmond establishments engender such polarity in the community and generate so much confusion and misinformation in general. It’s like watching a soap opera.
@14 spacecat…I absolutely agree with you. Have you ever pondered why this is the case? This drama has been constant with both businesses operated here in the Hill.
@ laura, what two businesses are you speaking of?
@15, Laura, what two businesses are you talking about? You mention “both businesses operated her int he Hill.” What are BOTH businesses?
sorry about my typos, meant “both businesses operated here in the Hill.”
Buzzy’s and Buffington’s Pies, Fries, and Franks
So Buzzy’s is now closing?
http://www.wric.com/story/27578737/popular-church-hill-coffee-shop-captain-buzzys-beanery-likely-closing
Wow, last week it was the business being sold except the landlord hadn’t been consulted about the change in Lessee. According to the above link, Buzzy’s lease has been sold to CHAT – has anyone told the landlord – but apparently the business has not & is going to re-open elsewhere. Is there a grain of truth in any of this or just Buffington/Fischer seeking attention?
Hayden Fischer does not have the greatest reputation so I’d take anything he says with a grain of salt.
@22 …they’re the PERFECT pairing…
@24 – could not agree more
@#15. I have pondered these strange machinations, and it would seem they’ll continue to the bitter end judging by the most recent vague and indefinite news.
@ 24 laura
…Kinda like Jim Carrey & Jeff Daniels in “Dumb and Dumber 1 & 2”?
Bob, please wake up, and smell the coffee. (Pardon the pun.)
John, I think it’s time to close this comment section too.