JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After refusing to be bought out of his lease, a Mandarin business owner said the property owner retaliated by putting up cement barriers to block off the front entrances to the parking lot.
Ryan Hoback, the owner of Hoby's Honey & General Store, said his business is being threatened by the new property owner who wants him out.
He said his shop is much more than just local honey, it's part of the community.
"We sponsor the arts festival locally. We sponsor softball teams. We have 50 percent of our store that is small businesses, some of which are right here in this area," Hoback said.
Hoback told News4Jax Friday that Tri-Force Development took over ownership of the property three days ago.
Before then, the new owner offered to buy Hoback out of his lease. He declined the offer.
Then about 11 a.m. Friday, Hoback said, the property owner had cement barriers brought in to close off the front entrances to the parking lot on San Jose Boulevard.
"This was a completely surprise to us," Hoback said.
Tri-Force Development cited "safety" as its reason for putting up the barriers, according to Hoback.
"This building has been here since the 1960s, never had any issues before, never had any prior complaints or anything like that. We tend to think it's a retaliatory gesture, towards our negotiations falling though," Hoback said.
Customers now have to use a back driveway off a side street, to wrap around the building and get in. Within less than a day, Hoback said he had already lost about 80 percent of his usual business.
"That's pretty big. And Friday, Saturday and Sunday are our biggest days of the week, always. So with these current blockades in place, this weekend will probably, unfortunately, shape up to be the same way. So that's a pretty big hit, coming from a small business, Hoback said.
Hoback said he has four years left on his lease that he signed with the former owner.
News4Jax reached out to Tri-Force Development Friday, but has not yet heard back.