Businesses at PNC tract sent packing
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It won't be Black and Gold Forever at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Wood Street, Downtown.
The end is near for the store and several others that are still operating within the footprint of the Tower at PNC Plaza, the $400 million skyscraper to be built on Wood between Fifth and Forbes avenues.
PNC Financial Services Group, which is building the 40-story office tower, has given some businesses until Aug. 31 and the rest until the end of September to vacate their space.
Not all of them are happy about it.
The owners of Eastern Wigs at 302 Fifth Ave. believe they should be compensated for any moving expenses they incur to make way for the new skyscraper.
"They're able to spend $400 million on an office building. Why can't they compensate us for moving?" asked Bessie Sunwoo, the daughter of owner Kay Sunwoo.
Eastern Wigs had two years remaining on its lease but will have to move out by the end of September. A clause in the lease gives the landlord the right to terminate with 60 days' notice.
Kay Sunwoo said she would like to keep the store Downtown, which has been its home for the last 39 years. So far she has not been able to find another spot, adding that 60 days' notice doesn't leave a lot of time to hunt for a place.
"It's hard to find space Downtown," she said.
At Black and Gold Forever, owner John Vazquez isn't looking for compensation, just a little more time.
Mr. Vazquez has been ordered to vacate his souvenir-crammed store at Fifth and Wood, where Steelers Super Bowl games play on a TV and blare from a loudspeaker, by Aug. 31.
He would like to stay a bit longer -- to take advantage of the Steelers' final preseason game in Carolina on Sept. 1.
"I'm just going to need maybe a few more days, at least until Sunday. It would be a shame to have to leave in the middle of the week. I mean, it's bad enough we won't have at least until Christmas," he said.
Mr. Vazquez hopes to move the store across Wood Street into a smaller space on Fifth near the 23-story Three PNC Plaza. He said the deal for the space is about 99 percent complete. He also has a small outlet on Forbes.
Still, he'll be sorry to leave the Fifth and Wood store.
"The Steelers season is just starting," he said. "Of course, it's sad. I got all these customers. They know you're here. Hopefully, they'll find the new location."
First Published August 9, 2011 12:00 am
