Houses To Share - Homeowners Trying to Cope (live, shops) - Fort Myers - Cape Coral area - Florida (FL) -Lee County - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

hiknapster · 12-05-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rikoshaprl

Hik, This may or not be comforting to you. Many posts back in another thread you were talking about hunger and you mentioned the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Yesterday I made a donation to them thinking of you.

I cried for at least 5 minutes. Yes, that was incredibly comforting. Wow. I don't know what to say. Out of everyone, my friends on city-data have been the best. Riko, you are amazing. Special shout out to Kev, too.

hiknapster · 01-02-2011, 02:15 PM

Woot. Here we are. Front page in the Sunday paper.

Learning to adapt: Knox businesses endure construction drawbacks » Knoxville News Sentinel

twobums · 01-02-2011, 07:59 PM

Wow, hik ~ what an article, one biz had to cut staff by half... all the best to you & your family in 2011!

hiknapster · 01-02-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobums

Wow, hik ~ what an article, one biz had to cut staff by half... all the best to you & your family in 2011!

Thanks, my friend! I think they did a splendid job of it. This really shows that no amount of planning can cover everything. There is always something. I am glad the new year is here and we are ready to meet it head on.

I love the juxtaposition of the garden center, a family business that has been around forever, with the new kids on the block. Mayo has four locations now. But the owners sometimes just look at us with such empathy, starting out this way.

These things tend to work their way out, though. Onward and upward for the small businesses of swFlorida, too, I say. Hopefully this will be the year.

harleygirl07 · 01-02-2011, 08:43 PM

Hik as one of the first people to respond to my chatter, I wish life to be good to you, your family and your business. May the sunshine on the building every day and bring to you what you have prayed for and needed. May you never feel pain, want, or hunger. I hope that you hold onto the dream you have and keep that fire alive in you and in the future. Your comments and recommendations that you give every day inspire people to take hold of their lives and future and have also helped in more ways than you know. You have stood head and shoulders above the negativity and always had a kind word to say. In the end.... I hope you financial stability and love,
Mischelle

rikoshaprl · 01-03-2011, 04:51 AM

I didn't see the new completion date. I hope it is soon and traffic flows to your shop.

hiknapster · 01-03-2011, 09:38 PM

April, Riko.

I called the city commissioner for that area. A very nice Republican that I use to work with and I supported his campaign. He's new to politics and is really trying to do a good job. The state told him April.

Business is very slowly picking up. I am going to have to go a few rounds with the landlord. We've paid him $15,000 all ready, but I can't pay a cent more until I have a proper entrance and exit for my customers. This is not his fault but the work was suppose to be done in October and I simply can't pay anymore. I don't know what he will say. Keep fingers crossed, say prayers, send good thoughts and karma. This will be the last hurdle until April. Pray that he understands that I just don't have the cash to pay anymore rent until then.

I plan on sending him a letter tomorrow telling him I cannot pay January's rent. Perhaps some of you business folks know if that sounds reasonable?

hiknapster · 01-03-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleygirl07

Hik as one of the first people to respond to my chatter, I wish life to be good to you, your family and your business. May the sunshine on the building every day and bring to you what you have prayed for and needed. May you never feel pain, want, or hunger. I hope that you hold onto the dream you have and keep that fire alive in you and in the future. Your comments and recommendations that you give every day inspire people to take hold of their lives and future and have also helped in more ways than you know. You have stood head and shoulders above the negativity and always had a kind word to say. In the end.... I hope you financial stability and love,
Mischelle

I want to thank you for such beautiful and kind words. See what I mean about us northeasterners? We crack wise while giving you the shirt off our back. We are good peeps.

I have been desperately running around handing out rep points in the hopes that I could give you some more. Nothing yet, but I'll keep working on it!

rikoshaprl · 01-04-2011, 06:00 AM

I did some checking to see if the might be some money available through the stimulus bill. (It is ironic that it may be a stimulus project that is hurting your business) There doesn't seem to be any grants for your situation but you might be able to get a SBA backed micro loan for up to $50,000.
Microloan Program | SBA.gov (http://www.sba.gov/content/microloan-program - broken link)
Even if you just show your landlord that you are applying might give him incentive that you will pay him some back rent in April.

hiknapster · 01-04-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rikoshaprl

I did some checking to see if the might be some money available through the stimulus bill. (It is ironic that it may be a stimulus project that is hurting your business) There doesn't seem to be any grants for your situation but you might be able to get a SBA backed micro loan for up to $50,000.
Microloan Program | SBA.gov (http://www.sba.gov/content/microloan-program - broken link)
Even if you just show your landlord that you are applying might give him incentive that you will pay him some back rent in April.

I had contacted SCORE and they told me to contact an attorney, as did my insurance carrier. This is great. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you! Again!

And I absolutely did think of the irony...I really did. Lots of hours staring out that plate glass window...

I'm not sure if it is part of the stimulus package or not. Someone told me it actually came from when that bridge fell in Minnesota, or Michigan. That Bush had to do something about the bridges, but I wouldn't swear to it.

I know there were a lot of fighting on both sides of the aisles for SBA loans for small businesses. You are correct. I need that money and so do a lot of folks in swFlorida. Look at Chris' parents that had to close down their restaurant. I truly think that we (I mean the universal "we") need some assistance while we try to hang on.

A lot of people argue that this is simply weeding out the wheat from the chaff but I don't know. We have a viable business in probably the best location in town. We are the closest garage to the university and we sit at the bottom of the hill from old-money mansions.

Maybe we need a "we'll pick up your car" service so people don't have to navigate the driveway. The problem is we are an unknown entity. Fortunately, we do have a following or we wouldn't have even had food.

We have been busy, so far, this week. Then comes tax checks. Then comes the spring.

I hope and pray that the summer picks up for the nation.

How does the snowbird situation look? Are they there yet?