Small Shop Owner In Downtown Office Building Petitioning To Keep Business Open
(CBS) -- Everyone calls him Kenny and he knows most of his customers by name.
The Riverside News Stand has been a staple for those who work in Chicago's CDW building for 27 years. But Kenny Patel is at risk of losing his shop as he faces eviction.
"Gateway Corporation wants to take over this store. They have 6-700 stores in U.S and Canada. I cannot compete with that and that's the end of fsmall business," said Patel.
Patel says his customers are like family, many young trainees who live paycheck to paycheck. Don't have enough money? No problem.
Patel says they come back and pay him all the time and he doesn't lose money. He says he believes in the honor system, a rare thing to find these days.
"I do business like 40-50 years ago, the way they used to do it, totally on a trust basis."
Callahan Capitol is not renewing Kenny's lease in favor of a Gateway Pharmacy franchise. About 2,000 people have signed a petition to keep him in his current location.
His customers say they will fight to help him keep his shop.
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"Kenny's the best. He's friendly, he's got great service. It's unfortunate and you just don't see people like Kenny anymore. I hope he doesn't go anywhere," said Mike Sorokin, a building employee.
Stephanie Reese says she visits the shop every day.
"He can't leave. We have an online petition and we don't want him to leave. I don't always have the money. We've all paid him back within 24 hours. Any other store you'd be out of luck," said Reese.
"He takes care of the people in this building and we take care of him," said Leonard Collins, longtime customer.
Callahan Capitol Partners, the company that owns the building did not return phone calls. Patel's lease is up in June.
