Earlier this week, we reported that 15th Ave E was losing one of its independent video rental stores as Video Connection had posted the always tragic handmade “Going out of business” signs in its window. We got a chance to talk with owner Chris Larson about his decision to pull the plug on the business he’s run since buying the shop in 2002. Meanwhile, we also got a tip about another Hill business with rent problems calling it quits.
Victoria Landis described her 618 Broadway E shop to us back in September:
Besides all the goods that I sell from the Middle East, Turkey, India, Morocco, etc., I also have Art openings once a month called “Last Friday Arts”, featuring a local artist and along with the art show there is some performing artists to complement the visual art that is being shown. Also HAREM has an event twice a month called HAREM NIGHTS which I have performers such as belly Dancers, DJ, etc. And I teach Belly Dance on the premises three times a week.
It appears the ‘decline’ of north Broadway is a transformation. On one hand, you have the empty restaurant spaces and deadzone from the massive Joule construction. On the other, Joule’s opening is planned for late this year and we just reported on an interesting little restaurant project about to fill one of the empty spaces before Bank of America steps in. Meanwhile, brave Poppy moved in early in the wave that now includes Roy Street Coffee while neighborhood institutions like Deluxe and, yes, even the Museum of Mysteries held their ground.
Part of this transformation means change for the older businesses like Harem. This week, the signs have finally gone up and Harem is having a closeout sale through the end of the month. Thanks to neighbor Traevynn for the tip. One of the signs says that Harem has ‘lost’ its lease. We’ll check in with Landis to see what else there is to the story.
Back on 15th Ave E, Video Connection’s owner Chris Larson tells CHS that his decision to close shop now wasn’t purely financial. Larson said problems with the building and his dissatisfaction with his lease situation led him to make the decision to close down the video shop he has operated since purchasing it in 2002. “It just didn’t make sense to leave the building and keep going,” Larson said.
We’ve been told by others that Larson’s rent had been increased — and the same thing popped up in CHS comments.
He declined to comment on whether he will take legal action against his landlord over the building conditions he said led to his decision. The 345 15th Ave E building is owned by a Jan Blake English who purchased the property in 1986 for $1 million.
I’ve heard rumors that someone is trying to acquire Harem’s entire block, from the parking lot in the South to the gas station in the north.
I think that some of those spots (ie. the parking lot and the gas station) are ripe for some infill but the Poppy/Harem building is absolutely beautiful with the wonderful art deco frieze. Not to mention we have had about enough of these ridiculously monstrous developments along Broadway.
Really, I think that building, the Lewis Building (Thai Garden), and the Deluxe building should all be included in the Harvard-Belmont Historic District. They really add to the distinct character of the North Broadway ‘hood.
WHAT WILL all this mean for working people in the U.S.?
IF CAPITAL has its way–and if an economic recovery takes hold–the “new normal” for the U.S. working class will be a markedly lower standard of living, with rising taxes to pay for the bank bailout. Jobs will be hard to find for the foreseeable future, and those working will work harder for less. Access to health care and government services like education will be rationed due to budget cuts. If there’s a double-dip recession, the picture will be bleaker still.
It’s a truism that workers have always had to fight for any gains they’ve made and keep fighting to maintain them. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, those words will take on a new relevance.
http://socialistworker.org/2010/02/12/recovery-leaves-worker
Seems crazy to me that a building owner would be raising rents in this environment. Who do they imagine is going to move into the Video Connection spot and want to pay higher rent?
Dear reporter folks, please get the businesses’ names down correctly! Thanks!
With the light rail and streetcar on Broadway, yes, there is going to be transition. I’m for density in areas that have good transit connections vs. suburban sprawl.
Is it always pretty between where we are and where are going? No, it isn’t. And I agree, the facade of the building that Poppy/Harem is in is lovely, and all efforts should be made to preserve it.
I just hope that people don’t want to stop development on the hill because they like how things are. They’ve been constantly evolving since I’ve been here, and I like that. I think one of the saddest transitions, however, has been the lack of age diversity in our neighborhood. I wish we had a larger mix of elderly and younger people.
Neither closure is really unexpected. Video connection has had on 15th video as it’s competition since it opened. Why you would open a small video store across the street from a larger older, more agile independent neighborhood video store is a mystery to me, but there it is. Or was, as it were.
As far as Harem is concerened, a niche middle eastern gewgaw shop at the ass end of broadway wasn’t long for this world to begin with. The consumer demographics were all wrong.