<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">The Palouse Empire Mall's management has always shown great disregard for our community. Recall the landscape fiasco of several years ago and the recent flap with the bus system. And just three months ago Gottschalks closed their doors because the mall (mis)management told them to leave. Kicking out the successful laundromat seems asinine. But when was BookPeople ever denied a location there? When did they even try to move to the mall? I haven't heard that story, tell us more.<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>SB</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV> <BR><DIV><DIV>On Apr 14, 2007, at 2:43 PM, Donovan Arnold wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><DIV>Tom,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Businesses went under in the Palouse Mall because the Mall owners raised the rent really high so many left. A new mall will create competition and serve as a check on the lease prices. Also, the mall kicked out many smaller businesses that are locally owned in favor of big chain stores. Market Time Gifts was one forced out. The mall owners won't even let Book People in there.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It would be nice to have a mall that supports local business owners and counters the over inflated rent prices. This is the free market at work. One guy jacks his rates to the roof, so another builds one for cheaper. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Donovan<BR><BR><B></B></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>