(I would like all of you to read the following.  It is a letter from Meridith Tanzer, owner of La Bussola and the Tree House Lounge on her standpoint and story, her account, and her view of what happened, as it happened with her store closing.  There’s a message in here, and there’s a little something for everyone to consider.   Yes, it is a little long, but if you want the real words of someone who worked hard in Reno and still got shit on, and ultimately hasn’t given up, this is it.  This is why La Bussola, and other Reno business, still needs your support.  Please, read on.)

Dear Gay Rodeo and God Hates Reno:

Thank you for loving the dream of La Bussola. It has been an incredibly eye opening experience that fills me with more love and respect for the arts and people and Reno than I ever would have imagined…and truthfully before moving here 7 years ago I would have bet money against this being my life. I would like to clarify some things in your article in the effort to lay it all out there.

La Bu and many other businesses downtown have been suffering for months…to a year-ish. Yes, in part of the over hyped Economy BS. However, the nature of the downtown River Walk district has gone thru major changes in the last few years. It is no longer a daytime retail driven destination and has become primarily the hotspot for night life, daytime drinking events–and dedicated River users which is great, and it does bring visibility to the area and retailers. However, it doesn’t have the daytime “joie de vive” it once did as there are less than 15% retailers…with speculation that 4-5 might be changing locations, closing or otherwise exploring their options.

But people still have the choice of shopping local…many small boutiques took measures to adjust prices, change manufacturers, and selections to be more competitive with larger establishments.  For some of us it helped but the foot traffic just isn’t there.
The Wine Walk used to bring both people who enjoyed Sat boozing as well as those who wanted to “get to know” downtown. I developed many relationships, friendships and customers who I met as a result of such events. Those events used to be Rent Makers for retailers. We knew that those days people in large numbers would understand what we were trying to do and they would support us.  But the River Walk was an amazing place to be 6am-6pm in the past…by having retailers open and thriving changes the way our district is perceived… and it made more people want to spend the day there enjoying all of it…shopping, food, theater, outdoors, ice cream….what ever. People wanted to see Art, Artists and feel a more urban city vibrancy. It is ideal that people notice the value of developed areas like this…and that business people invest money into them. This area should be considered a gem by the city and visitors. It’s beautiful with a water way that bring many people outside and connecting with one another socially outside of a “Festival” setting. I love it.  Many business owners are in the same position with their landlords and do not feel as free as otherwise might. I have had nothing but support from fellow business owners and city people.

Newer development and “property acquisitions” don’t account for becoming an active member of the downtown community. Many do not participate in any level other than City Planning and Permitting. They are not attending merchant meetings to see what is needed in the district to help their “deal” be viable. They are telling the neighborhood their vision and expecting everyone to play nice. West St. Market sees the value of downtown and is very active in all levels but due to the high costs of development it is difficult for a small business without lots of capital to be a part of the dream. The other developers sit with empty store fronts or require so many things of the tenants before being a livable space…seriously….you expect me a small business to have funds to bring in electrical or plumbing? Really? (By the way…I’m an art store!!!)

As for my current situation…Yes, I was late with rent twice (in 6 years!). We were notified our building sold late June. Not by way of formal introduction … but a letter… after many people on the street and tenants had started to get worried began talking. The letter welcomed some to “the family” of those to stay.  The owners (Marquis Group) moved into a building without so much of a handshake or hello or “Thank You,” for making this building worth buying in the first place, which is what stores like La Bussola did!

Prior to the letter I had people in my business with clip boards “looking around”. I came home one night late to people measuring my windows.   The last 2 months this has become common place…and really not a word uttered but uncomfortable silence as they jotted notes or whispered in the corners. Never did I request 24 hour notice which is acceptable by law. Only one set of these people introduced themselves. Only one! When did a proper hello become De rigueur?

One man walked straight in and said aloud as I was with a customer…”Where is your Electical Box?”  …as if we are supposed to drop what we were doing to entertain a stranger’s request. Maybe it would have put me a bit at ease that all would be ok if someone had said Hello or we understand your value.

It was common knowledge that there were plans to build a roof top bar and remove many of the tenants of the building. The new owners would not discuss it or even reassure us. People living in the building then started receiving eviction notices…and rent increases that made it impossible for people to stay. Many could have fought this notice but were not equipped to do this. The Housing Authority fielded many calls and talked to many tenants.

In July, I needed to be out of town on a family emergency…I spaced out delivering my rent by the 5th…I was prepared to pay a late fee as it is in my lease. I received a 5 Day Quit notice. Seriously?  This is your introduction?  Even though I had called the new Property Owner and introduced myself and acknowledged that I was sorry and would be returning on Monday.   The situation was still super uncomfortable.  I never received a return phone call. Never. I placed over 13 calls to the new owners requesting a meeting about our future.

I also live in the building, in what I consider substandard conditions with a reduced rent to reflect the decay. The new owners wanted to be able to raise my rent, to current market value for an apartment with a “water feature running through three rooms.” Super nice in the Winter. In the past this has cost me over $1500 worth of damage to Art and Furniture, and now I am more strategic where things go.   All in all, I feel responsible for referring many of the tenants that wanted to clean up the building and live and support a downtown area. The building was filled with a much different mix when I moved in. But I digress.

I ran into the new landlord and was finally forced to meet him.  He knew me and had passed my by many times or been in my business or taking up the loading zone many times before this. Someone went out of their way to make sure we met as we were still faceless “new owners”. Who still questionably retain the same Attorney as the previous owner.

So, I received this notice…and paid my rent the same day I returned. I then requested more meetings to discuss a future. We met late July… by a fluke. My shop is seldom open until 8 unless we have an event and he happened to stop by as I was doing things in the shop after hours. We did not have an appointment and it was not at an open time we had listed and there was no concession made for my schedule which is a little crazy during ArTown. Come August, my rent was late again. My business has been steadily dropping off, I attribute most of that to lack of qualified foot traffic downtown. We rely on visitors who spend their vacations in Reno. However many comment they’d choose other destinations in town because there is more shopping available. They head to the Mall for God’s Sake, The MALL on VACATION!

I requested a few more meetings and submitted a letter stating that I would need to end my lease early. My intention was to be vacated by the 1st. I spoke to the property owner towards the end of the month and asked for a few more days…as I could not get a truck until Thursday,  No Problem. The Sherriff showed up (The Sherriff!) on the 1st and locked those of us packing up out for the night. I was given 3 hours Wed evening and Thursday. The notice the Sherriff left stated that we had been previously served. We had not. It stated there was a notice mailed and one attached to the building. When the Sheriff locked the door I had 15 phone calls within about 25 minutes. I am quite sure that had an eviction notice been posted someone would have mentioned it. We moved Thursday. (Just a side note… once it was stated I would not continue with my lease I was also given notice to vacate my apartment as they would not continue my current month to month lease.)

It was unfortunate that it had to end this way and had the Property Owner been more professional I would hope to have been there a long time. We just got done with a huge store renovation, and it was really money down the drain. I am a huge believer in downtown and have spent much of my 6 years sitting on Boards, attending City Council, RWMA meetings, NAB meetings ect. There is great value in that area going untapped.

As far as the future of La Bussola, it is clear to me every day that something in that line of work is my future. I love to have worked with so many artists and have helped guide so many to something bigger. I am honored that so many took a risk to show their work with me. I am shocked at how many would judge such a place who went out on the limb by providing an Artist Space for more than 600 artists over time. I am inspired by all of the young kids that come in and respect the art and ask questions.

I believe in this fabulous area there is a Philanthropist or someone what understands the value of something like La Bussola and they have space available in an up and coming neighborhood or wants to help buy a building and turn it into a non-profit. Just because the shop is not currently there I do not want that idea of La Bussola to fade. Someone gave me an amazing opportunity with that store and I hope that someday my business/the communities business can do the same thing for other young people. La Bussola always reminded me of the Little Engine that could and people were all standing around it to make it succeed…that is what we are all trying to do. Those that get it…the art, networking, events, meetings, support, creativity, community awareness and love for one another. We are all just pushing this dream to be even bigger than one person can imagine.

Thank you Gay Rodeo and God Hates reno for all of your love and support and to the many, many ,many others. I love La Bu and this Sabatical might be the perfect break to imagine a future for the place we all love so much.

(…and thank you, Meridith, for being an inspiration to this town, and all of us.  We make this town great, in our own way, and it really is up to us…people don’t realize that change will happen with or without us, because someone else will step in.  However,  if we don’t participate, we will guarantee ourselves NOT to be part of any change, and that is not acceptable…this is why those like us continue on!)