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Doing Business with Horizon Property Group

The Bean Cup is a special place. Despite a terribly maintained strip mall that's both empty and not visible from the road, Chris Carr was able to build a profitable business that employed 7 and improved the neighborhood. It's always been noted as one of the best coffee shops in central Indiana.

After 3 years in their location, feuds with Horizon Property Group finally put an end to their business. These guys never played fair... they didn't fix broken stucco on the outside of the mall for 3 years, there are plants growing in the gutters in the back of the building, and worse of all... they continued to up the maintenance fees to cover other issues with their building and the lack of tenants.

A salon that had been here over 25 years was the last tenant to leave, and it was ugly, too. Just check with the owners. There's a chiropractor shop that appears open, but closed many months ago... giving a wrong impression to those who might drive by thinking that there are businesses in the mall.

This isn't how to treat a business that has brought tons of traffic from all over Indiana. Right now there are people in here from Fishers, Carmel, Indianapolis, Southport, Franklin and Greenwood. It's the last day and we're saying Thanks! the only way we know how. We're buying coffee and saying thanks to The Bean Cup for the special time that they brought us.

How did Horizon show its thanks? At the exact moment that Horizon Property Group executives were in trying to keep The Bean Cup, they had their property manager soliciting another coffee shop in town to see if it wanted to expand... knowing that the owners were related to Chris. After that didn't work, they took out an advertisement in the Sunday Star advertising that The Bean Cup was for lease. They mentioned it by name.

They came in and took photos inside the store, walls filled with art that The Bean Cup brought in, so they could advertise how to do it right for their next tenant. They also solicited the employees to see if they'd like to work at the next coffee shop... while The Bean Cup was still in business.

Now, on the farewell day, Horizon Property Group posted posters in the empty store next door to promote that a new Coffee Shop is opening in a couple weeks. I don't wish ill will on the new owners, but I won't have any part in the new shop because I won't support any business in a Horizon Property Group property. I'm boycotting them. This isn't how you treat people in Indiana. This isn't the Smoosier spirit.

This isn't how commercial real estate properties should do business in this economy.

The Bean Cup was a success despite its location. It was a success because of the love and dedication of its owners. The Bean Cup wasn't the walls or the floor or the strip mall. Horizon Property Group really threw away a gem with The Bean Cup. It was bad business, it was mean, and it was unnecessary. The Bean Cup will rise again at a location where they own the property or the property owners appreciate their tenants.

Just a note: I was never going to ever post about Horizon. But on this special day, a farewell day to The Bean Cup, putting up posters next door was a slap in the face that I couldn't stand by and watch.

Tags: commercial, horizon, horizon-property-group, real-estate, realty

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Comment by Julie Vidaurrazaga on November 2, 2009 at 2:34pm: Boo on Horizon. I wouldn't have believed the audacity of the landlord and his disgusting behavior if I had not witnessed it with my own eyes. I will never step foot in a coffee shop in that same location again, nor will I ever do business with Horizon and will make sure none of my friends do either. Chris and Jason were the BEST!

Comment by Brett R. Evans on October 31, 2009 at 6:21pm: Booo to Horizon Property Group.

Comment by Douglas Karr on October 31, 2009 at 4:00pm: Edited the post to specify "Property Group"!

Comment by Richard Burton on October 31, 2009 at 3:45pm: Not only is Horizon a company I won't do business with, but the new coffee shop won't get my patronage, either. I work too hard for my money to throw it at people like this.

Comment by Eva Lyford on October 31, 2009 at 3:44pm: I'm sad the bean cup is gone, and have no particular reason to go to any other coffee shop that might show up in this spot. They won't have the same panache.

Comment by Bill Bean on October 31, 2009 at 3:41pm: CORRECTION should be Horizon Property Group

Comment by Douglas Karr on October 31, 2009 at 2:23pm

Just in case anyone doesn't believe it about the posters that appeared today:

Comment by Mark Ballard on October 31, 2009 at 1:01pm: I think it's hilarious how the side of their trucks say "We've got space for your business" ... well of course they do...they've got plenty of space that no company wants

Comment by Noah Coffey on October 31, 2009 at 12:59pm: Glad you posted this. I can't wait to see the phoenix rise from the ashes.

Comment by Jason Bean on October 31, 2009 at 12:01pm: Agreed! We'll see where the strip mall is in a year or two and how the place looks without The Bean Cup bringing in traffic to the area.

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