SPRING LAKE — The owner of Grand
Rapids-based Eastern Floral, which last month took over
the former Avalon Floral at 804 E. Savidge St., has confirmed
the flower shop may soon be transplanted.At issue is a hefty
asking price for the building and land at the former Avalon
Floral. Bing Goei said his company was aware that the site
was for sale at the time they signed a lease and agreed
to merge with Avalon Floral, a local company that was operated
by former Spring Lake Village Councilman Fred Holland and
his wife Penelope for the last 13 years.
The Hollands ran into financial trouble and the business
was seized by the Michigan Department of Treasury last summer.
The couple re-opened the floral business in September.
Capstone Real Estate agent David TenCate confirmed Monday
that the land and building are on the market with a listing
price of $420,000.
Spring Lake Village Clerk/Treasurer Maribeth Lawrence said
late Tuesday that the property's current state equalized
evaluation suggests the site as it stands is worth about
$200,000.
But those numbers can't be relied upon so much anymore because
of the (poor) economy," Lawrence added.
TenCate said there are options available for both Eastern
Floral and any potential purchaser regarding a future lease
agreement.
The purchaser would be a landlord," TenCate said of
the existing 90-day lease termination contract. "There
are ways for both the landlord and the tenant to get out
of the lease. We have provisions for Eastern Floral to get
out of the lease."
Goei said although his firm wanted to approach the Spring
Lake market, and did through a tentative lease of the Avalon
Floral building, that the $420,000 asking price was too
much for economic conditions to warrant purchasing.
"We were willing to sign a short-term lease while they
continue to try to sell the property," Goei said. "It's
our intent to find a new location for the Avalon Floral
operation in the Spring Lake area. We believe the current
location does not allow us to truly display what we think
are some wonderful products. The display area in the current
location is quite small."
Goei said all options are open for a new location, but he
and his staff are committed to remain in the village because
of what he deems a "niche market" that is geographically
close to the Eastern Floral shop in Grand Haven.
"We're not moving out of Spring Lake, and any other
local sites right now are a consideration," Goei said.
Goei said he plans to meet this month with local developer
John Doezema, who is proposing a retail/office development
at the southwest corner of Savidge Street and Fruitport
Road.
Doezema has paid more than $1 million for a stretch of sites
that includes the former River Road Publishing House, the
Pickle Barrel, Village Hardware, a consignment shop and
car wash on the south side of Savidge Street.
Goei said he and his company had full knowledge that the
Avalon Floral building may be a tentative site when they
entered into the original lease.
"We even talked about the purchase price but didn't
think the business had enough volume to warrant that kind
of debt. We worked out a short-term leasing agreement (with
owner of record Thomas E. Blake) with the recognition that
if it did sell immediately he would give us a 90-day notice
to vacate. Everything will depend on how quickly the property
sells."
Goei said he hopes to have at least a year in the current
804 E. Savidge St. location to establish local business.
An empty building is not going to sell as well as a building
with a viable business operating from it," Goei said.
"But everything these days is driven by market conditions.
Avalon Floral had a very good reputation in our industry.
We felt the combination of Eastern Floral and Avalon Floral
would be an asset for the community."
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