Jacquie Peterson and her husband, John Clark, own and operate five businesses headquartered in Cedartown. Two businesses, the historic West Theatre and the Pink Sugar boutique, are closing next week. (2010 file photo/thepolkfishwrap.com)
The current owners of the historic West Cinema, on West Avenue, Cedartown, plan to shut down after the last film shows Friday, Nov. 16. A carpet cleaning company is pictured as the theater was being prepared Thursday for the weekend. (Lowell Vickers/thepolkfishwrap.com)
Pink Sugar, a downtown Cedartown boutique located at the corner of West Avenue and Main Street, is closing effective Saturday, Nov. 17. The re-election of President Barack Obama was a factor in the decision to close, owner Jacquie Peterson said. (File photo/thepolkfishwerap.com)
Jacquie Peterson and her husband, John Clark, also own three other businesses. They travel across the nation in support of Hospitality Renovations and U.S. National Construction, which will both continue operating. A fifth business, Zeepbel USA, is a manufacturer and wholesale supplier of organic bath and body products to spas, boutiques and salons. The business sells to nine states and Peterson plans to continue operations there as well.
Peterson said she anticipates higher taxes and more regulations during Obama’s second term of office. Closing the downtown Cedartown retail business and movie theater are necessary steps for the couple’s economic survival, Peterson said.
“We thank and love this community and have tried to do the right thing,” Peterson said. “But at some point you have to take care of yourself.
“We are shutting down the arteries to save the core business.”
Peterson went on to say that “elections have consequences.” While noting that Polk County is a conservative community that favored Republican Mitt Romney in the election, the simple fact is that the couple’s business has to survive in a national business climate that Peterson described as increasingly hostile to small businesses.
“The current administration’s agenda has continued to make the business environment impossible for small business entrepreneurs,” Peterson said. “We pay about 55 cents of every dollar we make to taxes. After he’s done it’ll be 65 cents of every dollar.”
Pink Sugar opened about two years ago, filling an empty building at the busy corner of Main Street and West Avenue. The boutique sells bath soaps, perfumes, clothing and accessories.
The couple bought the West Cinema last year from the Kenneth Browning family. It is currently operated by their daughter and son-in-law, Gabriella and Jeff Drake. The theater has two screens and hosts birthday parties and other events.
Peterson said the theater is up for sale. Interested parties may contact Gabriella Drake at (706) 204-6423. Meanwhile, according to the theater’s Facebook page, the theater will shut down after showing the film “Breaking Dawn Part II” on Friday, Nov. 16.
The stock, furnishings and display items at Pink Sugar will be sold next week through a going-out-of-business sale, beginning 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. The business currently has its doors locked and windows covered. Saturday, Nov. 17 will be the last day of the sale.
I don't run a "feel Good" business on Main St. and nobody patronizes me just to "support" my business. I have to provide value for people's very scarce dollars in this town while at the same time battling local government codes. It doesn't leave me with much money myself and I pretty much end up being one of the working poor myself because EVERYTHING goes back into my business.
I appreciate that they attempted to open a business on Main St. because it does need vendors and I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE how hard it is to keep a small business afloat in this town and not only do I lack support I also face opposition.
I did visit the place once. I did not find any value for my dollar there. I won't say it was overpriced it just wasn't the kind of thing I need to buy and I don't have much money for things I don't need. I also felt out of place being a very plain and sometimes even ragged person due to the nature of the work I do. They may not have meant to make me feel this way and it may have been my own self consciousness but I felt a little unwelcome there as well.
http://m.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/nov/8/picket-companies-plan-massive-layoffs-obamacare-be/