10/24/2019
There have been many questions concerning the future and current status of our business, Game of Cones and Konsole Gaming Center. I hope that by writing this it will answer some of those concerns and questions. I also hope that after reading this, there may be someone with the proper knowledge, to offer their advice, guidance and/or help in resolving this situation.
In 2018, we signed a one year lease with the option of a 5 year extension, including many verbal agreements and promises with Bruce Frank. This was just the beginning of our journey. My family, friends and I put our blood sweat and tears into this project, working days and pulling all nighters for months, to proudly present our new age gaming center to our community. Over the remaining year, we discovered Mr. Frank was in the process of claiming bankruptcy. Once we were made aware of his intentions, we along with the other tenants of the complex were extremely concerned as to what the future held for our businesses and jobs.
In December 2018 we learned that the County of Cape May was interested in purchasing the complex. During this time, the county’s lawyers reached out to us and asked us about our lease and what our intentions were for the foreseeable future of our business. We explained to them what our understanding of the lease agreements were, both written and verbal, and that we had every intention of keeping our business open. When the purchase by the county was complete, we were told that they were taking over the lease agreements “written as is” with the expectation that both parties, the lessor and the lessee, would comply. We continued to pay our monthly rent to the county, as per our original lease agreement, and the county cashed our rent checks.
Fast forward to 2019 and current day. The county did in fact purchase the property and has plans to renovate and bring businesses back. With the news of the theater closing and Sav-a-Lot already out of business, things were looking really bleak for us. We had put together a business plan (Per our county person of contact’s request) to expand our business. In our plans, we were going to reopen the movie theater( within days of its closing) while beginning the process of adding a bowling alley, arcade, restaurant and possible brewery. (sound familiar?) In March 2019 we submitted the business plans, as requested by the county, only to be told that instead of awarding us the expansion, they were going to take our idea of a Family Entertainment Center and put it out to public bid. We submitted our business plans along with the blueprints that we had of the entire complex ( which were not supplied by the county), our personal research, including layouts and drawings of our proposal, prior to the submissions of RFP (Request for Proposals) with a confidentiality clause attached. After they received this information, they continued to make it impossible for us to secure the opportunity to expand our existing business by requiring new unattainable provisions to be submitted in addition to the proposal. The dates for the submission as well as the requirements to be included were changed numerous times. By the time all of these changes had taken place, our investors were sick and tired of the games that the county was playing, which in turn, caused them to refrain from any other attempts at conducting business with the county.
Through all of this, the county did not acknowledge the fact that there were still businesses currently open and operating everyday: Konsole Gaming Center and Rent a Center. Since the purchase of the property we have endured many complications that most tenants should not and would not have to deal with. For example, trash strewn throughout the grounds and store fronts, one trash can for the entire facility, no parking lot lights for over 4 weeks (even though the county was notified of the issue immediately by multiple tenants), overgrown grass and weeds, and most recently, not being notified of the current demolition work that is taking place in the parking lot. When we questioned the parking lot project manager, we were told that he left a "walkway" for us and that we could continue to open for business throughout all of the construction. To this we replied, it is not a safe environment and we were not going to put our customers in harms way.
Due to these issues, we have had to cancel scheduled birthday parties and close our doors to the public until further notice. We have reached out numerous times to multiple people including county employees, politicians and freeholders, asking for guidance and help but have received nothing more than an informal and simple “we’ll have to get back to you”.
Most recently we have learned that our store will now be put out for public bid because our lease has lapsed, due to not being renewed in a timely fashion. However, we have contacted and met with the freeholders and our county person of contact since the beginning of 2019, before our year lease had ended to discuss our current lease and renewal options. Now “they” are claiming to have no knowledge or recollection of these meetings and conversations. At this point we strongly feel that our local government, who now owns the complex where our business resides, could care less. It is truly disheartening to know that we live in a community where our local government does not care about small business owners like ourselves. We have given our community a place for kids and families to gather and have fun, a place to celebrate your child’s birthday, and an after school hangout for school clubs to gather.
Being a small business, our heart, soul and every dime and penny goes into our store. Every day my children and I open, work and greet you all like the family and friends you have become. Every missed BBQ or beach day this summer has been spent there, waiting for customers and now the county is pushing us out without reason or explanation. In the latest news release describing the plans for the complex there has been no mention of our business which is currently there.
To our loyal customers, We are so grateful for your business and friendships made throughout the year and we are sorry. We are uncertain of what the future holds for Game of Cones and Konsole Gaming Center.
