In a slew of posts on Facebook on Thursday, there were reports of a neighborhood convenience store closing in York County.
But that’s not entirely the case.
Donald Bramlatt, who owns the Crossroads Market, 800 Dare Road, said his last day as the owner is March 11. He is currently looking for another place.
“The owner of the building is not wanting to renew it,” he said, adding he was given official notice last week.
Bramlatt said he asked a couple months ago if his lease was going to be renewed, hoping to negotiate for a 4-year lease, but the owner never got back to him. His current lease expires on March 28.
This week, Bramlatt said he and the owner of the building has attempted to negotiate deals going back and forth on inventory.
“To me, it is what it is,” he said. “He owns the building ––– there’s nothing I can do.”
“I will miss the neighborhood,” Bramlatt added. “Thank you for all of the support over the past 10 years.”
The building’s owner, Christopher “Chris” Pittman said he spoke with Bramlatt a couple of years ago about not renewing the store’s lease.
“He’s known for a couple years that his lease wasn’t going to be renewed,” Pittman said.
Pittman has owned the Dare Deli & Steamhouse located in the same building as convenience store for roughly five years. He also owns Hoss’s Deli in Newport News.
Once Bramlatt leaves and his lease ends, he will no longer own the convenience store, including its inventory.
When asked why he did not renew Bramlatt’s lease, he said he wants the market.
“There is no hard feelings here,” Pittman said. “We’re just going into the market business.”
Pittman said he will rename the store to Dare Market and plans to keep it the same––– down to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. In fact, he already has the business license.
Jared Upton, general manager of Dare Deli & Steamhouse, the restaurant next door, said Dare Deli is not definitely not closing.
“The owner of the convenience store is leaving,” he said. “We’re taking over the store.”
He said the rumors about a chicken joint opening next door are not true.
“We’re keeping it a community convenience store,” Upton said. “We don’t want to make a big fiasco about it.”
In a Facebook post Thursday, the business addressed the rumors and future plans for the space next door.
“The market next door to us known as crossroads market is simply changing ownership and will be renamed DARE MARKET,” the post read. “We all live in this neighborhood and can promise you it will always remain a neighborhood market.”
“Sorry about the misinformation and confusion.”
