Small businesses that weathered the pandemic are now grappling with the state of the US economy.A grocery store in Nashville that became famous for stopping price rises to help people with food inflation is now in a bind.Unfortunately, the owner of A&M Marketplace at the Nashville Farmers' Market says they could be days away from closing.
Martha Lupai says she will have to close down her grocery store in Nashville amid cost of living pressures. Her store became famous for stopping price rises. (CNN)The store opened in 2020, which has made the owners pretty resilient, however, they got a notice in early October that because they were in default they had until November 7 to come up with $US27,095 ($42,000).Store owner Martha Lupai said an ongoing issue with squirrels in the Market House had caused her to throw out more than $US5,700 in food due to contamination, halt her smoothie business — costing her $US150 per day — and close her store multiple times to disinfect and clean. She has spoken to city leaders about this issue.Lupai said she was offered and committed to a repayment plan to get caught up, but the Nashville Farmers' Market is now going back on its word.
The Nashville store's decision to stop lifting food prices has come during a period of intense inflation and a surging cost of food. (CNN)"I just want them to honour what they said because you cannot tell a small business owner, a minority owner, you cannot come and say I'm doing this and then just change it immediately," Lupai said.At a September meeting with the executive director and finance director, Lupai said she agreed to pay her regular $US8,717 a month plus an additional $US2,028.56 through June to settle the debt.Three weeks later, Lupai got a notice of default instructing her to cure the default in 15 days.
This is the notice that Lupai was handed, requesting that she pay her bill or be forcibly closed. (CNN)"I was misled. I felt like I was set up so this will happen," Lupai said.According to the Farmers' Market, the board of commissioners declined the repayment plan at the September meeting.Lupai was prepared to pay $US10,745 a month through June, not come up with $US27,095 in two weeks."I feel like this is a retaliation for us," Lupai said.A&M Marketplace will be shut down if the situation isn't remedied by November 7.