In 2015, the Mirror published an article detailing how Louise and Stuart Oliver would be leasing the Eastville Inn to create the Kitchen Sync catering and event company. Since then, the business, as well as the adaptive re-use of the historic Inn has been an unqualified success. Despite what appears to be a clear win for Northampton County (the county owns Eastville Inn), regressive thinking is once again winning the day. The Olivers have not lost hope, and continue to lobby the county to let them continue their work. Below is a transcript of Stuart Oliver addressing the county Board of Supervisors:
Good evening, I would like to make a brief presentation regarding the request for lease proposals for the Eastville Inn, which will soon be due.
As you know, my wife Louise has operated Kitchen Sync Catering out of the premises for approximately the last six years. When she took it over it had been vacant for some time after a series of failed restaurant ventures. During these 6 years, she has built a successful business and has utilized the premises as an event venue and a base for her catering operation. We feel that this is the appropriate use for this property.
It is my understanding that the county would prefer to sell the premises outright or lease them on a long-term basis to a new restaurant venture.
It is my opinion that you will not receive an acceptable bid for purchase, as the cost of renovation and acquisition will exceed the cash flow needed to justify an acquisition by an independent, non-subsidized entity. As for the new restaurant venture; many have tried, and all have failed in recent memory.
Throughout the COVID pandemic, the county has received its rent check from us, on time, in full. You have a good, reliable tenant in place, and it makes sound business sense to work with the existing tenant than gamble on a new venture. Higher proposed rental contracts are no good if the business fails and the tenant vacates mid-lease, as the previous one did.
It is our desire to remain on the premises and we will make a written offer in the near future with a proposed increase in rent. In addition, limited lunch service will be available within one month of the execution of a new lease. Lunch service would already be in effect had we not been served with notification of termination of our lease.
I understand that the Town of Eastville has placed pressure on the county for the termination of our lease due to low food and beverage tax returns. It is our contention that the potential for revenue of this sort is vastly overrated. Until the Town gets its own financial house in order, their input should be minimal. Six-figure salaries to traffic cops would be a good place for them to start cutting expenses. This building belongs to the whole county, not just the Eastville Self Enrichment Club.
Again, it is our contention that Kitchen Sync catering is an excellent tenant for this property and is a known and proven quantity.
We look forward to working with you. Thank you.
Well written
Now it’s time for the people to voice their support on this issue . Obviously this business has been successful because of the people .
You live by the sword you die by the sword! Now the Counties (and towns) biggest critic needs something, how ironic. I predict he will be thrown out on his butt, exactly what he deserves!
Our family supports any local business, however I’m not sure going after the salaries of police officers will help their cause. It was a good letter until I read that.
Rob Stubbs was paid over 106,000.00 in 2018 as second in command of a 5 man department.Well more than Dave Doughty was paid as the Sherrif of Northampton County. At the time this salary was paid, the then Town Administrator/ police Chief, Dave Eder was paid $93,000 per year. He had meetings with the county to have our lease terminated because as a catering venue it was not producing enough food and beverage taxes to suit the Town. He also released privileged information through a Town newsletter. All this while the Town was receiving over $800,000 per year in income from speeding tickets. The Board of Supervisors see through all this, and call the shots as they own the building. Thus the reference to police salaries.
Yes, “cut off your nose to spite your face”…idiots.
Speed KILLS, speed enforcement SAVES LIVES. Scotiagirl has never met an Eastville “traffic cop” (A derogatory term, she supposes, referring to a trained, certified professional law police officer). Could this be because she obeys posted speed limits and does not run red lights?
Exactly how much money is “enough” to risk one’s life in service to others? And what does the job of a police officer have to do with whether or not a catering business should make sandwiches?
Well Sotiagirl….they are traffic cops, and the major risk they will take is carpal tunnel syndrome from writing tickets. Using data collected up to August of 2021 COUNTY not Town officers responded to 88% of calls for service in Eastville between the hours of 10pm and 7 am. The Eastville traffic cops were home with their family, so you should advocate for a salary increase for COUNTY officers. The Eastville Police Department was formed with two objectives: Revenue enhancement, and self enrichment. Not for the health safety and welfare of its residents. The Town collects about $800,000 per year in fine revenue, and in 2018 Rob Stubbs made over $106,000 , including more than $43,000 in overtime. Much more than Sherrif Doughty’s salary. Im sure this makes perfect sense in Scotiagirl world…what would you pay the traffic cops?….$300,000 enough? You can bet the top brass didnt want salary figures coming out. It took two FOIA requests to get a straight answer
They still had time to lobby the County for our lease termination on the Eastville Inn, because they thought they could make more money from another tenant in Food and Beverage taxes. Modifying expenditures would not occur to them…easier to boot out an existing small business. In the process they leaked privileged information from a confidential County meeting in a newsletter. The County owns the Inn and calls the shots. And Eastville’s style of management is now exposed, and open for review. By the way, i have lived in Eastville for 32 years, and this is the way they treat their own
Again Mr. Oliver has stated the facts. Those who think they know more continue to talk as if they do. Comical really!