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Saul Kills Another One

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by afgm, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    Mezza Grill in the Safeway shopping center is moving by the end of the month.

    Seems Saul keeps jacking the rent and has been adding other requirements to tenants. I was in Mezza last night and heard the news.

    Seems their rent was just increased to $10,000 a month! Man that seems high. Anyway, to rich for Mezza and they are moving to a location with more reasonable rent over on Ashburn Road. From what I was told Mezza moved into the shopping center some six years ago and the rent was then around $6,500.

    I've been hearing rumbles from other tenants that things are getting dicey over there.

    Sorry to see Mezza have to move, they were always a good place for quick, cheap, and good food.

    Who will be next?
     
  2. Small Brancher

    Small Brancher Member

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    Wow, that is too bad. IMO, thought they were one of the best restaurants in Ashburn. Perhaps they can put another Thai restautant in their space !
     
  3. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

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    Landlords have a pretty strong economic incentive to have their spaces filled. I don't know if $10k/month is fair market value for Mezza's space or not. If it's too much, it will sit empty and this Saul character will lose money.
     
  4. BzyCookn

    BzyCookn New Member

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    Our favorite for take-out in Broadlands. Fresh, reasonably priced, and delicious food. They will be missed. :(

    Please, not another Thai place. Or nail salon.
     
  5. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    I agree nails just aren't that appetizing.

    [QUOTE Please, not another Thai place. Or nail salon.[/QUOTE]
     
  6. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    Has anyone ever queried Saul Management to learn WHY they keep chasing out their tenants? Mezza, Subway Vince, Robeks is there but says the mgt is difficult, too many to list. I agree that logically, it would make sense to have a full center. Maybe this could be a good thing for Broadlands Marketplace? Anyway, what IF, they want the write off? Would that make sense? I remember when Go Bananas tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with Saul. Too bad, I think that company is too big to care.
     
  7. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    My guess is they are pretty ruthless. Look at their total disregard for Postal Masters, a long time tenant. Saul could care less about that and went ahead and signed up a major competitor a few doors down, the USPS.

    I wouldn't be surprised if they started to run a puppy mill out back to compete with the pet store.
     
  8. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    Sorry if it's been answered, but where are they moving to?
     
  9. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    They are moving somewhere on Ashburn Road. Not sure of the address.
     
  10. Charmed1

    Charmed1 New Member

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    This is so frustrating. When we moved here, I saw that plaza as a way to cut down on my driving and increase walking/cycling. I wish that the already existing retail space could be used instead of constantly building new, when there is so much vacant/available.
     
  11. Home Sweet Home

    Home Sweet Home New Member

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    Completely agree. :(
     
  12. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    don't worry- others WILL move in... and then move out, but then! others will move in. and then move OUT... but then others will move in... oy vey.

    :surrender:
     
  13. razng2grtboys

    razng2grtboys New Member

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    Moving to Ashburn Rd....that's not that far folks. We need continue to go there and show them our support after the move.
     
  14. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    Thanks, I certainly will.
     
  15. hberg

    hberg give me some of your tots

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    I am not a fan at all of Postal Masters - the guy that ran that place was so rude most of the time. After numerous issues with him and mailing boxes to Canada and being charge months later by FedEx directly, I started using UPS (where the staff there are friendly but cost is more $). I am happy to see USPS moved in. Mezza has it's fans and it's non-fans. Similar to San Vitos. It seems that Saul Center has empty space all the time now and trouble keeping it filled. Sad. Look at Southern Walk's center - they lost American Flatbread, Calilou (can't remember the spelling), Starbucks, Bear Claw Cafe (that never even opened) and yet Glory Days somehow manages to stay afloat.
     
  16. ChrisL

    ChrisL Member

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    Southern walk is managed by KLNB and Van Metre. They loose tenants... but it's not usually to high rent. It's due to a general lack of customers. But you will notice that Calilou is now a Orthodontist, Starbucks/BearClaw is now a doctor, Flatbread is becoming a Rubino's. To me that is the sign of a landlord that is trying hard to rent it's space. Meanwhile empty space abounds at Broadlands Center. Perhaps the Bonefish should just expand into the insurance office and push the insurance people to the other side. That's one place you can't EVER seem to get in!
     
  17. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Where the Paris Prestige used to be on Ashburn Road (near 7-11 by the fire station) there is now a sign for Mezza Grill.
     
  18. Brit

    Brit New Member

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    One Mediterranean restaurant across the street from another (Med. Breeze)? Funny thinking and that unit always seems to be the kiss of death.

    Oh well, good luck to them!
     
  19. razng2grtboys

    razng2grtboys New Member

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    I was a frequent customer of Mezza Grill when they were at Broadlands Center (next to Safeway). They relocated due to the extremely high rent. I hope they can survive the new location. I like both Med. Breeze and Mezza Grill, but Mezza is more authentic imo. I will continue to be a frequent customer once they reopen in a week or two.
     
  20. vincecarbone

    vincecarbone New Member

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    Not sure where to start with Saul. I personally would have closed about 5 years ago if they were not able to reduce my rent. I was successfully able to reduce my rent twice with Saul. Only for the fact that Saul and Subway have a long standing relationship. There is probably a Subway in every Saul center in the metro area. I also never fell behind in rent. Once tenants are late with rent, they will never try and help you . Still the rent is very high and in 2 years my lease was up and I had a feeling that the rent was going to increase significantly. I saw the writing on the wall and knew it was time to sell.

    Saul also killed my business for some time when they allowed Puccios to open when I had a non-compete in my lease. There was a small loop hole that gave me zero power to fight back. Still Saul could care less that they directly went against my non-compete. I also have a feeling that they screwed me once and with all of the empty spots, what would stop them from putting a direct competitor back in? I know if a deli of some sort had an interest, they would lease the space to them. I was lucky to weather the storm, but look at postal masters. Saul knows they are going to run him out of business and care less. Steve will not be able to sell his store and is simply waiting for the lease to expire and walk away with nothing. On top of everything else, we rely on a strong anchor to attract customers to the center. Safeway is one of the worst run grocery stores I have ever seen. They would probably have more customers if they went to all self check out lanes.

    I know there is a huge risk opening any store and with Saul, I learned a lot and lost a lot of money. I still miss being in the neighborhood and seeing my customers. I appreciate all of the support that was given to me over the years and I am grateful to still have two stores in Ashburn that allow me to work with the communities.
     

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