So since I moved to Louisiana over 6 years ago, I immediately found my favorite store the first few months here. It was this cute little art supplies kinda creative Re-use center downtown in a kinda shabby storefront... But if you know me at all, you'd know how much I am an advocate as an artist for no or low waste. This store emcompassed that message and threw in little weird kitschy items to boot.
I became somewhat friendly and familiar with the shop owner, and had always told her how much I adored her little store, and on my worst days, digging around in all the materials made my day better.
Fast forward to now. I just got back down here, and she informed me they were closing! Noooo.... I was devastated. She then mentioned she tried several times to find someone to take it over. So I asked for some more details, and then declared without a second thought "I'll do it". She seemed surprised. I told her I was quite serious however, and asked her what had to be done to make it so. She gave a time line and everything. No problem. I start learning about running nonprofits, trying to get resources and informed, and started trying to figure out what would need to happen next to save it, as she has been struggling and basically in the red since covid every month, squeaking by.
Now, the building she said would be complex because her lease was never renewed after the first year. She wondered after they announced a roof replacement the month prior, or if handing it over, that either event would trigger a rent increase. We kinda stuck a pin in that thought and got to work irregardless, determined to make it happen.
Fast forward a little more, I've worked every day almost for two months without pay no less, and I am exhausted at this point but feel very happy and fulfilled, it's a scary but I believed it a very good decision to take this burden on.
Well.... I walk into work to bring in donations I've been killing myself practically to get for us Monday morning, as we definitely had a lack of them and it's a big part of what keeps us open.... I even went to Michigan for ten days, and spent most of the trip gathering donations there as well... To a notice stuck in the door from the property management company saying to contact them. I immediately felt nervous.... I sent her a photo as she's been out with covid for a week now, and was gone for a family situation two weeks prior. I felt nervous.... I never expected what she called me back and said...
THEY SOLD THE FUCKING BUILDING.
AND. AAAAAND.... they gave us till August first to vacate. What. The. Fuck.
We are also around 2k behind this month to pay rent and make our bills next month as well. The ac doesn't work, we have a leaking ceiling, and they're throwing us out because they would rather sell, than fix it. We are a 501c. Nonprofit is a bit different than a typical situation for retail.... I don't know what to do now. She says it's my call. Find a place we can afford, or call it. I feel gutted and paralyzed. I don't even know where to start. I'm leaving so much out because this is already long but holy shit this is basically a nightmare. I don't know whether to start a gofundme so we can make the rent this, and next month, and pray for enough to get moved- in which case rent is certainly going to go up.... Beg them to keep us on with promise to cooperate and clean up the store if it's even an option (probably already going to turn it into a restaurant 😏)..... Or post some big public woe is us, please save us public thing calling them out for giving us zero time to move an entire business and pray people help, or someone is willing to donate a property to us for a tax incentive (a huge one no less). People love the store so much.... It would be a huge loss to the community especially since we teach adult and kids classes funded by donations and sales. We sell goods cheap so they're affordable for even low income. Art should be accessible to all, not a few. Art is very important for our wellbeing and self expression.
I feel so many things... I don't even know... I really had a vision, a dream here. I need the distraction while I sit around waiting to die slowly. I need things to stay occupied and busy, and they need to be things that matter, that leave something good behind. I've spent three days just crying...... I gave up on getting my own medical help as is. It's been one dead end after another and there's no way I can afford the last option I have to be saved by getting surgery in San Diego at ucsd like I had tried since the start of the pandemic. My tumor is huge. Truly a monster now. I need something to keep me going. I feel so lost and I find something that was a home for me and the rug is ripped out violently again. I don't know how to navigate this shit anymore. I can't take another thing honestly....
I just needed to vent. I'm sorry if you read this all. It just felt important for a minuite to say the story once.
Utterly defeated.... I don't know what fight I have left ya'll., 😔 I truly just don't anymore...frankly, just writing this was exhausting. I don't know what to do.... I just don't....
❤️