karma
From the Herald Journal:
Java Jive is closed.
Greg Olle, owner of the downtown coffeehouse and café, has been evicted after not paying rent since the fall. He said Tuesday would be his last day of business.
Olle operated Java Jive at 198 Ezell St. for the past six years. But officials with Cleveland-White Realtors, the leasing agent for ownership group BESAPA, LLC, said Olle has failed to pay rent since November.
Donna Turner Williams, the leasing agent for the property and the plaintiff in eviction papers filed two months ago in Spartanburg County Magistrate Court, believed that the coffeehouse had closed this past weekend.
The court found in favor of the landlord March 21, and by normal procedure a state constable was to remove Olle by March 27 if he had not vacated. Williams had requested that a constable not be sent and gave Olle a grace period through this past weekend.
Williams was surprised to find out that Java Jive was still operating when she visited the business Tuesday.
"I'm a little confused," Williams said to Olle as she walked down the aisle between the retro couches and chairs that line the walls of Java Jive.
Williams said Olle, a former downtown association president and mayoral candidate, paid $800 last week, but the amount was only "a drop in the bucket" compared to the $8,900 owed.
Williams said she understood he would be open through March 30, and was planning to liquidate assets in order to pay his rent default and other debts.
Olle, who minutes before said the coffee house's demise was simply rumor, escorted Williams into Java Jive's kitchen.
The two spoke for several minutes before Williams left.
Outside on Ezell Street, Williams said they had extended a grace period to Olle, but that grace had now ended.
Olle said he wasn't closing the business, but he was instead selling it -- on eBay.
He was under the impression that he was being given time until Java Jive was placed up for bid April 3.
"I'm shocked and dumbfounded because I honestly thought they were giving me time," Olle said.
He also said he figured if he was going to be in the building, he might as well operate.
"I guess there's a problem with being open," he said shortly after his impromptu meeting with Williams.
Williams said there should have been no confusion.
She said she sent Olle a letter on March 24 detailing his plans as she understood them after their phone conversation.
The letter reflected Olle's understanding of the March 30 move-out date, and that monies accrued from the liquidation of assets would pay for his rent default and other debt.
"I was easy on him," Williams said. "I could have had someone lined up to come in April 1. I was trying to help the fellow out."
Olle, who also owes an estimated $1,200 to the City of Spartanburg for unpaid hospitality taxes in 2002, did not say how much he was trying to get for Java Jive on eBay, but he said it could land anywhere for the right price.
"It's a turnkey business," Olle claimed. "Someone in Utah could buy it."
Jerri Greene, executive director of the Spartanburg Development Council, said the news of Java Jive's closed made her sad.
"It really pains me to lose any of our people because it's a family downtown," she said. "It may be a dysfunctional family, but it's a family."
Olle said he was looking forward to the change after working from 7 a.m. to midnight for the past six years.
"I'm done with this," he said. "It's been a success. I want my time back."
Woohoo the wicked witch is dead . . . I'd like to give a special thanks to Karma and God and the three-fold law and whatever other force might have been involved with Olle getting fucked. Hoorah!
Java Jive is closed.
Greg Olle, owner of the downtown coffeehouse and café, has been evicted after not paying rent since the fall. He said Tuesday would be his last day of business.
Olle operated Java Jive at 198 Ezell St. for the past six years. But officials with Cleveland-White Realtors, the leasing agent for ownership group BESAPA, LLC, said Olle has failed to pay rent since November.
Donna Turner Williams, the leasing agent for the property and the plaintiff in eviction papers filed two months ago in Spartanburg County Magistrate Court, believed that the coffeehouse had closed this past weekend.
The court found in favor of the landlord March 21, and by normal procedure a state constable was to remove Olle by March 27 if he had not vacated. Williams had requested that a constable not be sent and gave Olle a grace period through this past weekend.
Williams was surprised to find out that Java Jive was still operating when she visited the business Tuesday.
"I'm a little confused," Williams said to Olle as she walked down the aisle between the retro couches and chairs that line the walls of Java Jive.
Williams said Olle, a former downtown association president and mayoral candidate, paid $800 last week, but the amount was only "a drop in the bucket" compared to the $8,900 owed.
Williams said she understood he would be open through March 30, and was planning to liquidate assets in order to pay his rent default and other debts.
Olle, who minutes before said the coffee house's demise was simply rumor, escorted Williams into Java Jive's kitchen.
The two spoke for several minutes before Williams left.
Outside on Ezell Street, Williams said they had extended a grace period to Olle, but that grace had now ended.
Olle said he wasn't closing the business, but he was instead selling it -- on eBay.
He was under the impression that he was being given time until Java Jive was placed up for bid April 3.
"I'm shocked and dumbfounded because I honestly thought they were giving me time," Olle said.
He also said he figured if he was going to be in the building, he might as well operate.
"I guess there's a problem with being open," he said shortly after his impromptu meeting with Williams.
Williams said there should have been no confusion.
She said she sent Olle a letter on March 24 detailing his plans as she understood them after their phone conversation.
The letter reflected Olle's understanding of the March 30 move-out date, and that monies accrued from the liquidation of assets would pay for his rent default and other debt.
"I was easy on him," Williams said. "I could have had someone lined up to come in April 1. I was trying to help the fellow out."
Olle, who also owes an estimated $1,200 to the City of Spartanburg for unpaid hospitality taxes in 2002, did not say how much he was trying to get for Java Jive on eBay, but he said it could land anywhere for the right price.
"It's a turnkey business," Olle claimed. "Someone in Utah could buy it."
Jerri Greene, executive director of the Spartanburg Development Council, said the news of Java Jive's closed made her sad.
"It really pains me to lose any of our people because it's a family downtown," she said. "It may be a dysfunctional family, but it's a family."
Olle said he was looking forward to the change after working from 7 a.m. to midnight for the past six years.
"I'm done with this," he said. "It's been a success. I want my time back."
Woohoo the wicked witch is dead . . . I'd like to give a special thanks to Karma and God and the three-fold law and whatever other force might have been involved with Olle getting fucked. Hoorah!