What's next for Lake Street Plaza?

    PENN YAN—The Lake Street Plaza currently has some empty storefronts and according to several tenants there will be a few more empty stores in the near future.
    Church Creative Flooring moved out of their Lake Street Plaza location at the end of last year.  H&R Block will be relocating to 16 Main St. in Penn Yan after the tax season has ended. Office Manager Jan Kennedy said, “There have been been conflicts with business in ownership and businesses.”
    Jim Schnitzler, manager of Radio Shack, said his business is moving away from the plaza to a downtown Penn Yan location at 103 Main St.  However, he said the electronics store is moving “not for reasons others may be moving.” He explained this was a business decision for the new location that was purchased last year. Schnitzler said his move should be complete within the next few months.
    Tammy Maciejewski, owner of Family Hair Care, said she is moving her business from the plaza because the contract she had with the old landlord is expiring. She explained she has been at the plaza for 23 years. Family Hair Care will be relocated to 200 Liberty St. by April 1. Maciejewski added the current plaza tenant rates have “skyrocketed.” She added, “For the current landlord his rates are his rates.”
    Mike Westfall, owner of Church Creative Flooring, said, “At our location he tried to triple the rent [to help him pay back taxes]. I even offered to pay an additional $12,000 per year more-but that wasn’t enough so we left.” Westfall added he was also not pleased with the conditions at the plaza. “I’ve had to pull cars out of the potholes (in the parking lot at the the plaza).”
    Yates County Treasurer Bonnie Percy said the plaza owner had owed taxes on the property from 2009 to 2011, totaling $199,182.22. However, she explained that amount was paid on April 29, 2011.
    Demetrios Pappan is the owner of the plaza through his company, Sean and Co., LP, based in Aliquippa, Pa. Pappan did not return a phone call by press deadline.
    Are more moves in the future? The Observer contacted several of the medium and larger-size tenants. Ray Spencer, owner of Lake Street Wines and Spirits said he had no plans to change locations. The corporate spokesperson for Dollar General and CVS said the same thing.
    Peebles built their new store at the plaza in 2008. Rent-A-Center was a new business to the plaza in 2011.