Block of Port Chester small businesses unhappy by purchase of large developer

A block of small businesses in Port Chester are furious that they have been bought by a large developer.

News 12 Staff

Jul 11, 2021, 3:15 PM

Updated 1,111 days ago

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A block of small businesses in Port Chester are furious that they have been bought by a large developer.
"We love this space, it's become like our second home," says Magaly Cochachi, XS Salon co-owner.
For Cochachi and her family, who are immigrants from Peru, the salon is their American dream.
"My sister and my mom, they're also owners of the salon," says Cochachi.
They've owned the business on Main Street for more than 20 years, and they found kinship next door to fellow Peruvian immigrants, who opened Acquario around the same time.
"We're a part of the community, they did a lot for the community," says Allison Canas with Acquario Restaurant.
But XS Salon signed a lease, while Acquario Restaurant, and two other shops on Main Street, did not. In March, when the Lighthouse Living development company bought the whole block, XS Salon decided to stay put.
David Mann, the new landlord, says it's the bad judgment of the other businesses for not having a lease. He made them an offer he calls "generous and accommodating." He would pay for them to move to a temporary location for three years, until construction of his new building is done. The businesses could return at a higher rent.
But no one took his offer.
"For the amount of money he wants per square footage, I don't think it's anything we as a small business could afford," says Cochachi. "I think he's targeting maybe a Starbucks or something like that."
The three businesses without leases are already out. The developers will have to demolish and construct around XS Salon.
"Gentrification always comes up," says Cochachi.
But Mann says he doesn't think gentrification is the right word, and believes his project will improve the village.


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