WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |100 Oaks' progress forces some small business owners out

100 Oaks' progress forces some small business owners out

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - While some businesses are taking advantage of Vanderbilt University's partnership with 100 Oaks Mall, the price of progress is sending others packing.

Lee Huang has owned Berry Hill Liquors on Thompson Lane for 21 years.

He said his landlord doubled the rent from $5,000 to $10,000 a month and he has no choice but to leave.

"I have to go, I don't have a choice," he told News 2.  "Rent is going double, and the business didn't come up."

Berry Hill Liquors is across the street from 100 Oaks Mall and Vanderbilt's new clinics.

The clinics are credited by most for revitalizing Nashville's first indoor shopping mall and bringing more businesses, more restaurants and more customers to the Berry Hill and Flatrock shopping districts.

Longtime tenants like Huang, however, are becoming the victims of all that progress.

While other businesses report an increase in customers after Vanderbilt moved in, he said his business was cut by a third.

Huang said he doesn't blame Vanderbilt, but the economy.

"I cannot sign a contract with them," he said.  "Probably either November or December I will have to leave here."

Huang said as he understands, the storefront will be leased to a wireless carrier such as Sprint or Verizon.

Huang is not alone.

A Chevron station that occupied the corner of Bransford Avenue and Thompson Lane was demolished several months ago to make room for a Pinnacle Bank office building.

Metro Councilwoman Anna Page represents the Berry Hill and Flatrock areas.

She said while losing the gas station "was a shame", "Pinnacle Bank is going to be a good community partner also."

She added, "We're looking forward to some new businesses but we want to keep the small business in business because we realize it's the backbone of America."

Councilwoman Page said the city continues to hear from businesses looking to relocate to the 100 Oaks area.