From: Michael LaPidus
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 6:47 PM
To: 'LGBA'
Subject: **URGENT Meeting**

LGBA & Community Members,

There are few defining moments in our business community and our board believes that the topic of a Pawn Shop opening in Downtown is worthy of a vigorous fight from our organization and the community. We need all of you to be in attendance at the LGBA meeting this Thursday at 8am at Palmers to discuss this topic.

The building owner of the old Hollywood Video building has signed a lease with a Pawn Shop for the corner location and is in talks with a mattress shop for the other space. We have been extremely fortunate in the past to have building owners be diligent about tenants they rent to and commit their leasing practices to the spirit of what has made La Grange’s business district extremely successful; the right mix of unique, practical, eclectic and exciting businesses that fit our community and compliment our existing shops and restaurants.

Over the Pet Parade Weekend, community members and business owners received word of the Pawn Shop’s arrival. It was overwhelmingly met with disgust, fear and genuine concern.  A Pawn Shop in our downtown does not bring the shoppers and consumers we need to fill our stores and restaurants.  A Pawn Shop in town devalues the progress this village and business community has made over the last decade to make La Grange a top 10 downtown in Chicago. A Pawn Shop will in fact have a long term reverberating affect on our property values, both residential and business. A Pawn Shop does not compliment the businesses and restaurants we have in town and will never, no matter how “upscale” it looks be a business others will look at positively when starting or relocating to La Grange. 

We NEED your Help.  The village will be amending the local ordinance to eliminate the existence of a Pawn Shop category.  As I stated before, the community and business district is banning together to support the trustees decision to do this necessary action.  They need to hear from us!  There will be a Public Hearing Meeting on Monday, June 29th at 7:30p at Village Hall as well.

Village President Liz Asperger      easperger@villageoflagrange.com    708-579-2310

Village Manager Bob Pilipiszyn      rpilipiszyn@villageoflagrange.com    708-579-2310

LGBA President Michael LaPidus   LaPidus@rolypoly.com 

Thank you and we will see you Thursday morning!!