County Says Lease Will End for Riverwalk's Stars & Stripes

By Sam Thrift Friday, December 23, 2011

An owner of a Riverwalk Landing shop in Yorktown spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 20, saying she was being treated unfairly when the county denied her request to extend her lease. She failed to mention that ending her lease Dec. 31 was her suggestion.

Stars & Stripes owner Robin McNamara has been in court multiple times due to disputes over rent, settling the latest trial in October with the Economic Development Authority by agreeing to a rent reduction, three months rent-free and asking to shorten her lease, according to York County Attorney James Barnett.

The EDA is similar to a landlord, overseeing the businesses in Riverwalk Landing and managing the leases. McNamara asked the EDA to renew her lease last week during their meeting, three months after reaching a binding agreement to vacate before the New Year. The group denied her request, with EDA Director Jim Noel citing her delinquent rent payments and the fact she asked to shorten her lease.

“I’m sorry you signed a binding agreement, but that’s the way it is,” Noel said.  “Every case is unique in landlord-tenant cases and unfortunately that is how it worked out.”

During the Board of Supervisors meeting, McNamara requested the Board work with the EDA in regard to her lease, arguing they denied her rent because of issues they have had in the past.

“To say that my business is not appropriate for Riverwalk when it is the most appropriate in historic Yorktown, is unbelievable,” McNamara said. “I’m just really asking that you guys do whatever you can to make sure Stars and Stripes stays in Yorktown.”

Barnett said problems seemed to come to a head last year, when the EDA offered free rent from January to March to tenants who signed a waiver and were up-to-date with their rent. McNamara refused initially, one reason being she was behind on her payments. According to Barnett, when they reached an agreement for her delinquent rent for Stars & Stripes two months ago, she signed the waiver, received the three months’ free rent and shortened her lease.

“[The shortened lease] was not forced on her, it was something that she asked for,” Barnett said.

Stars & Stripes was not McNamara’s only store that had issues. According to Barnett, she closed her other store, Founding Fathers, when faced with similar financial difficulties. Although McNamara is not currently behind in her lease with Stars & Stripes, she still owes the EDA $6,723.13 in rent and $56 in court costs for Founding Fathers after a court ruled against her last April.

Noel said the EDA is currently talking to businesses interested in leasing at Riverwalk Landing, but they have not executed any leases yet. Barnett said the group is rethinking the type of tenant they want for the shopping center, adding that the EDA is looking for shops that will not only appeal to tourists, but to residents of Yorktown.