When long time Piedmont resident and business owner Joe Lively decided to sell his business and retire, he probably didn’t expect to be standing in front of the Piedmont City Council, on Tuesday, seeking their support.
Lively isn’t seeking support for himself, but for Lively’s Foodland, a Piedmont staple for over 50 years, which could be looking at permanent closure due to an ongoing lease dispute.
After hearing Lively’s remarks, the council authorized Mayor Bill Baker to plead to a Calhoun County Judge to allow a local grocery store to remain open at the 115 East Ladiga Street property, in spite of the lease dispute.
“Our involvement is to try to keep someone in that building,” Baker said.
The dispute, according to Lively, began when he decided to not renew his lease and sell the business.
After lining up potential buyers, Lively claims that Greg Gregerson, owner of Piedmont’s Gregerson’s Foods, acquired the lease under false pretenses.
On July 20th, Lively filed a lawsuit against Gregerson that alleges that Gregerson obtained the lease under the promise that he would keep the store open.
According to Lively, Gregerson later said that he would close the store and asked him to vacate the property.
Mayor Baker described the potential loss of the more $300,000 per year in sales tax revenue from the store as being “devastating” to the city.
When Mayor Baker stands in front of Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge Brian Howell later this month, he won’t be taking sides in the lawsuit, only expressing the councils desire to see a business remain at that location for the sake of Piedmont.
The next regular Piedmont City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16th, at 6 pm.