By Joanie Veitch - The Weekly News
It's been a difficult summer for Cubano's Mini Market owner Noelvis Rochela, one that might just see him close his Thistle Street location for good.
After reluctantly closing his small grocery market in late spring, due to ongoing roadworks on Thistle Street, now an unanswered request to his landlord to have his driveway paved has kept his doors closed.
"I sent (my landlord) a letter three months ago telling him I wouldn't renew my lease unless this work was done. I had hoped it would be done when the store was closed but I still haven't heard back from him," said Rochela.
Rochela's lease expires at the end of August. Although he had initially told customers he would reopen his store after the street construction was completed in June, when he did not hear anything positive from his landlord, he decided not to reinvest in inventory until the situation was resolved.
"If I do not receive something in writing saying he will have the work done, I will have to move the store. It's not what I want. I want to stay here," Rochela said.
Although Rochela has also requested more storage space at the back of the shop, the main issue, he says, is the driveway. After rain and during the winter months, it becomes muddy and wet in the parking area and driveway, deterring many customers.
As Rochela sees it, he keeps the interior of the store clean and tidy and wants the outside to be safe and appealing as well.
"It's not a new issue. It's been a problem since I moved in here. It's frustrating for me that it's still an issue," he said.
Since the store opened in 2007, business has been steadily increasing. In early April - before he knew the roadworks would disrupt business at the end of the month - Rochela closed the store for two weeks to do some cleaning and expand the produce section.
"When I reopened, I was impressed by the amount of business, to be honest. It was better than ever," Rochela said.
Then came the notice from the city that Thistle Street would be closed for the replacement of water pipes beginning April 27, and the beginning of his current woes.
"It's a bad situation. I lost a lot of money when I had to close the store in April.
"I don't want to reopen now, only to have to move because I can't resign my lease. It would cost me between $8,000 to $10,000 to start up again. I just can't afford to lose that."
As a back up plan, Rochela met with people from the Harbourview Weekend Market at the former Value Village site last week. He has also viewed a property on Albro Lake Road.
"I want to stay here as it's such a nice area and I have a good clientele, but I don't know what is going to happen," he said.
joanie.veitch@gmail.com
