published on in Celeb Buzz

Grocery store owner says landlord wants her out WSOC TV

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nancy Peralta opened a Compare Foods store on Milton Road in 2005. She invested everything she had in it and so far, the gamble has paid off.

"I create a bond with my customers as part of my family. I know most of my customers, I know each one of my employees and I know their families," Peralta said.

She said she recently received a letter from the landlord, East Town Market, telling her they wanted her out.

Channel 9 reached out to East Town Market for comment, but did not hear back Tuesday. East Town Market later sent us this statement:

"East Town Market, LP, would like to clarify that this is a lease dispute between the landlord and tenant over the tenant's rights to remain in the premises after the expiration of its lease. It is not a battle between David (Compare Foods) and Goliath (Wal-mart). The fact is, Compare Foods, which owns over 30 stores in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina, is a much larger company than ours by almost any measure. Compare Foods is not honoring the terms of its lease and has chosen to go to the press, which indicates to us their concerns about the weakness of their legal stance in this matter. East Town Market looks forward to its day in court.

"Additionally, if Wal-mart Neighborhood Market were to come to East Town Market, we believe it would be a great addition to the community and would be a catalyst in bringing new merchants to the neighborhood."

According to the city, Walmart submitted a plan for the shopping center, but so far nothing has been approved.

Peralta's nephew, Omar Jorge, owns his own Compare Foods store in Charlotte.

"One of the main reasons that we're successful is the deep roots that we have with community around our stores," Jorge said.

He told us the lease agreement they have with the land lord of the Milton road location is good through 2036.

"Our family has been in the super market industry for close to 40 years and this is the first time in 40 years that a situation like this has ever presented itself," Jorge said.

An attorney for the Peralta said they are being sued by East Town. They plan to file a counter claim but have not done so yet.

While the battle goes on in court, Jorge said they will stay open.

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