Community members rally around Brookside business amid rent hike

People in Brookside are rallying behind a store that could have to move or possibly close after 80 years in business.

POLICE."People would be heartbroken aupset if this store closed"PEOPLE IN BROOKSIDEARE RALLYING BEHIND ASTORE THAT COULD HAVETO MOVE AFTER 80 YEARSIN BUSINESFRIENDS CLOSE TO THEOWNERS OF "THE NEWDIME STORE" SAY THEIRRENT IS INCREASINGSIGNIFICANTLY.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMES ISLIVE AT THE STORE.EMMA - COMMUNITYMEMBERS SAY THEY'REREFUSING TO LET THATHAPPEN?YES - A BROOKSIDEWOMAN WHO IS A LONGTIME CUSTOMER HERE ATTHE NEW DIME STORESAYS SHE FEELS THE NEEDTO DO SOMETHINGBECAUSE OF HOW MUCTHE STORE MEANS TO HERAND MANY OTHERS INTOWN.SONJA SHAFFER, LONG-TIMECUSTOMER"Like this reminds me of mychildhood, I loved to just likeplay store and play money, Idont' even know where youfind that kind of stuff besidesgoing far out."FOR SONJA SHAFFER -WALKING THE AISLES OFTHE NEW DIME STORE IS ATRIP BACK IN TIMSONJA SHAFFER, LONG-TIMECUSTOMER "So many things that we neethis was a part of it, my kidseven did craft classes here."FOR YEARS - SHE AND HERKIDS HAVE BEEN LOYALCUSTOMERS TO THESTORE SHE CALLS ACOMMUNITY STAPLE.SONJA SHAFFER, LONG-TIMECUSTOMER"This store is like the heart ofBrookside, it's been here for80 years."RECENTLY - SHAFFERLEARNED THE STORE'SFUTURE COULD BEHANGING IN THE BALANCE.AN EMPLOYEE SAYS THEDEVELOPER THAT OWNSTHE PROPERTY - FIRSTWASHINGTON REALTYBASED OUT OF MARYLAND- IS RAISING THE RENT.THAT INCREASE COMESAMID A PROPERTYASSESSMENT HIKEACCORDING TO THECOUNTY -- THE PROPERTYHAS A NEARLY 500THOUSAND DOLLARINCREASE IN COMMERCIALVALUE BETWEEN 20-17 AND20-19.IF THE RENT HIKEHAPPENS - SHAFFERFEARS THE STORE WILLHAVE TO MOVE ORPOSSIBLY EVEN CLOSE.SONJA SHAFFER, LONG-TIMECUSTOMER"People would be heartbrokenand upset if this store closed."SHE STARTED AFACEBOOK GROUP TORALLY SUPPORT.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Workers say the storecharm is what makes it sospecial, for example, you cansee the history in the floorwhere they say the originalcandy barrels that used to sithere caused this dip."RACHEL ARATO-HRABKO, WORKSAT NEW DIME STORE"It's special, it's unique."RACHEL ARATO-HRABKO ISA 6-YEAR EMPLOYEE.IT WAS THE STORE'SOLD-SCHOOL FEEL ANDLOYAL CUSTOMERS THATKEPT HER COMING BACKYEAR AFTER YEAR.RACHEL ARATO-HRABKO, WORKSAT NEW DIME STORE"It's kind of a throwback andwe're losing places like this."I REACHED OUT TO FIRSTWASHINGTON REALTY TOSEE IF THE ASSESSMENTINCREASE DIRECTLYCAUSED THE RENT HIKEAND IF THE COMPANY ISAPPEALING IT.I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.REPORTING LIVE INBROOKSIDE, EMMA JAMES,41 ACTION