Struggling Palm Beach - Trying to SURVIVE

Struggling Palm Beach retailers eye lower rents from landlords

By MEGAN V. WINSLOW, Daily News

April 04, 2009

Concerned the economic downturn could eat away more of Palm Beach's retail landscape, some small business owners are seeking to band together behind a unified front.

"We were a town built upon extravagance, so when the extravagance has to stop while the world regroups, we don't have a slow trickle-down. We are at a dead stop in this town," Clarfeld said.

"In times like this, we look at other communities and see what they're doing," he said.

"I don't think there's a miraculous solution for any of us," Mirroir said. "If the landlords would be a little lenient and prepared to work with people, that would be one of the best solutions."

"It's difficult right now," Torres said. "Some tenants are hanging in there. Some are making a go of it and some are not."

Some of the struggling tenants have requested concessions, and Torres' Tricony Via Corp. is working with them as much as it can, he said.

"It's difficult right now," Torres said. "Some tenants are hanging in there. Some are making a go of it and some are not."

Some of the struggling tenants have requested concessions, and Torres' Tricony Via Corp. is working with them as much as it can, he said.

"Anything that anyone can come up with I'm behind," she said. "I'm just looking for a solution to be able to survive."