Susanna Freymark
David Mcllwain served customers at Luci Macs Lotto and Gift Shop in Casino for the last time today, Sunday, June 29.
David has run the shop next to Coles for more than 16 years.
David got up at 4.45am every morning to get the newspapers and ready the shop for customers.
Many of those customers have become friends, he said.
David hasn’t chosen to retire but feels forced out because his monthly lease was not renewed by the landlord RSM Properties.
“I’m disappointed with the situation and the way it was handled,” David said.
“I should have been on a three-year lease.”
His dispute with RSM Properties has been discussed at two RSM board meetings.
David said he had a gentleman’s handshake agreement with the RSM.
In May, Casino RSM Club chief executive John Walker said, “This whole issue is entirely their fault as they simply chose not to seek a renewal of their lease for the three years after it expired.”
“Any business understands that it is fundamental that you secure the premises you operate from. Why are they different?”
Mr Walker said Luci Macs was given notice that the month to month tenancy agreement would not be extended.
“They have done nothing but blame me and the Club for their own mistake,” Mr Walker said.
“RSM Properties, who own the property made a commercial decision to lease it for the long term to another tenant. Simple.”
That new tenant is likely to be Coles who will have a liquor shop there.
Luci Macs and the employment office next will be renovated into one large shop space.
Mr Walker said there were plenty of vacant shops in town that David and Cheryl could lease.
“They need to accept they are entirely responsible for the situation they find themselves in, not me or the club’s board, Mr Wallker said.
David said it wasn’t that simple moving to another shop because they operate Lotto and there are strict rules about not having Lotto outlets near each other. There is a Lotto outlet in Walker Street already.
The dispute about tenancy agreements remains divisive and only David and the RSM really know what happened.
