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Staff Writer AGAWAM Dave Ratner, owner of Dave's Soda and Pet City has invested more in the Agawam community by purchasing the former Ames Building on Springfield Street, which has been vacant for about six years. Ratner said that he has not yet closed on the property, but he has signed a purchase and sale agreement and has payed a non-refundable deposit for the property. He added that he has been in negotiations for the property for about six or seven months. According to Ratner, the former Ames site was attractive to him because "it is a way better location than mine." He added that people have to know about his store's location to visit it because it is tucked away on Ramah Circle. He also said, "We need more space. We are busting at the seams." Ratner explained that the former Ames building is about 70,000 square feet. His ultimate plans would be to move his business into 30,000 square feet of the building, which is twice the size of his current location in Agawam. He added that he entered the agway business last April and could use the extra space to store the mulch, plants and bark. In addition, he said that he plans to rent out the space he does not use to other tenants and retailers, which he said "is pretty exciting." There is a small glitch in his plans, however. He explained that the former owners of the Ames building had a 50 year easement lease with the owners of the Food Mart building, which is still valid for another 1.5 years. "I now have to try to buy the easement from the folks who [own] the Food Mart," he said. The owner of the Food Mart Property is Sander Family LLC, which is managed by Marcel Sander. Several months ago, Ratner approached the owner of the Food Mart building and at that time, he did not want to sell the easement. "The guy who owns the Food Mart was in control," Ratner said. "Once I bought the building, he is not in control anymore. I have other options for the building." He said that if he is unable to obtain the parking, he would rent out the former Ames building as warehouse space, which he said would not be good for the plaza. He added that he does not want to do that. He said that he called Sander and expects to speak to him sometime this week about the parking easement. Ratner said that he is hopeful that within the next couple of weeks, he will reach an agreement with Sander and will be able to "get to work right away." "I would love to be there by March," Ratner said. Ratner has been part of the Agawam community as a business owner for 30 years. He said that the environment in city hall is "neat" in the way that officials were rooting for him, not only because they want to see the building rented, but "it is neat to be in a place you have been for so many years and everyone wishes you well." Ratner owns the building on Ramah Circle that houses his current store and said he plans to rent it out if he is able to move it to the Ames building. Ratner is the owner of four Dave's Soda and Pet City Stores. In addition to the Agawam store, he operates stores in Hadley, Springfield and Northampton. For more information about the store, visit www.davessodaandpetcity. com. | ||||||
