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| Plans continue for revamped shopping plaza By David F. Smydra Jr.--[ david@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:14 PM PDT Coastsiders could be sipping from Peet's coffee cups and carrying their groceries out of New Leaf Community Market by 2008. "I'd like to have things pretty much done by the end of the year," said Mike Shami, landlord of one section of the strip mall located at the northeast corner of highways 1 and 92. On the same day that Raman Bechar received an eviction notice for his business, Coastside Gourmet Coffee and Tea, Shami sent a similar missive to Bechar's neighbor, Joung Chai. Chai runs the adjacent Laundromat. Bechar and Chai have until July 15 to move out. Meanwhile, Peet's Coffee and Tea and Santa Cruz-based New Leaf are continuing their negotiations to move into the strip. Shami confirmed that New Leaf would fill the vacancy created by Albertsons when it moved out almost a year ago, and that Peet's would fill Bechar's and Chai's spots. Shami called the strip mall's evolution a work in progress. "We'd like to have it happen sooner than later," he said. The mall's evolution has remained a hot topic for area residents. Coastside Gourmet Coffee and Tea, in particular, has been a lightning rod for development and small business issues. The Review's online message board brought word of the eviction notice last week and has since generated 1,100 page views and 65 comments. As for the Laundromat, Chai said he doesn't plan to reopen his business anywhere else on the coast. "I'm getting too old to start all over," he said. New Leaf General Manager Rex Stewart said Tuesday that plans are not yet final to move into the strip but acknowledges they're getting closer. New Leaf has not been negotiating with Shami directly, but with Albertsons, which still holds a 16-year lease on the property. Stewart said that New Leaf is trying to work out a sublease agreement, but five minor "deal points" are still being resolved. Whatever New Leaf and Albertson's agree on, however, must be approved by Shami. Shami said he was confident in the deal with Peet's. "It's not 100 percent done yet, but it looks like it's going to happen," Shami said. Peets responded to questions through a spokeswoman's statement indicating that nothing was final. "As of today, no lease or terms have been finalized with Peet's. Peet's looks forward to the possibility of coming to Half Moon Bay, a community that shares its values - a love and appreciation for coffee and tea as well as a belief in contributing positively through active involvement in the community," said Erica Hess, senior manager of public relations and social responsibility, for Peet's. Nearby tenant Ernie's Wine & Liquors continues its business uninterrupted. Manager Manuel Ordóñez said Tuesday that he's sorry his neighbors were evicted and that he's noticed a downtick in business since then. "I don't like change - I'm an old tradition guy," Ordóñez said. But he looks forward to seeing new businesses occupy the strip, which should generate increased traffic. "Traffic is business," he said. "More traffic, more business." |