A recent court ruling that gives exclusive parking lot rights to the owners of 1414 University Ave., former home of Andronico’s, has left nearby business owners fuming. In August, an Alameda County Superior Court judge decided that Palo Alto’s Berkeley Bazaar Partnerships (BBP) is the sole owner of the parking lot that sits between 1414 University and 1432 University, even though tenants and customers of the former address, known as Strawberry Walk, have been using the lot for decades. BBP has leased part of the 25,000-square-foot building at 1414 University and the adjacent parking lot, to Savers Thrift Superstores, a 57-year-old Washington-based company with more than 290 stores around the country. When Savers opens in November, no one patronizing the string of small businesses on Strawberry Walk bordering the lot will be allowed to park there. “The property has always been owned by Berkeley Bazaar Partners, and we never had an agreement with Strawberry Walk for parking or use of our lot,” said BBP’s Joyce Yamagiwa. Cecile Isaacs, an owner of the property at 1432 University, disputes that idea. Because the lot was shared by businesses that predated Andronico’s and Strawberry Walk, she believed her tenants would have access to […]
A recent court ruling that gives exclusive parking lot rights to the owners of 1414 University Ave., former home of Andronico’s, has left nearby business owners fuming. In August, an Alameda County Superior Court judge decided that Palo Alto’s Berkeley Bazaar Partnerships (BBP) is the sole owner of the parking lot that sits between 1414 University and 1432 University, even though tenants and customers of the former address, known as Strawberry Walk, have been using the lot for decades. BBP has leased part of the 25,000-square-foot building at 1414 University and the adjacent parking lot, to Savers Thrift Superstores, a 57-year-old Washington-based company with more than 290 stores around the country. When Savers opens in November, no one patronizing the string of small businesses on Strawberry Walk bordering the lot will be allowed to park there. “The property has always been owned by Berkeley Bazaar Partners, and we never had an agreement with Strawberry Walk for parking or use of our lot,” said BBP’s Joyce Yamagiwa. Cecile Isaacs, an owner of the property at 1432 University, disputes that idea. Because the lot was shared by businesses that predated Andronico’s and Strawberry Walk, she believed her tenants would have access to […]