Q BBQ and Urban Sole: Clearing the Smoky Air
Chicagoland media picks up the story, Q BBQ owner denies smoke is the reason Urban Sole is closing.
A long-simmering disagreement between two downtown La Grange businesses is suddently getting a lot of attention from the Chicagoland media. The story of the smoky tension between the two businesses and their landlord has been picked up by the Doings, republished in the Chicago Sun-Times, and featured on CBS and WBBM Newsradio.
Honor Lorenzini and Mary Kral, who own Urban Sole recently announced they would be closing their doors after having made it through the worst part of the recession. The reason, they say, is a problem with their next-door neighbor—Q BBQ.
The owners of Urban Sole told the Doings that attempts to clear the air with building landlord John Rot and Q owner Michael LaPidus have not gone well, and the Village of La Grange has been unable to help, telling the owners this is a landlord/tenant issue.
Yesterday, WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts picked up the story for CBS. LaPidus, the owner of Q, told WBBM that they have gone to great lengths to be a good neighbor to Urban Sole, including raising smoke stacks and installing an expensive exhaust system.
The owners of Urban Sole say that hasn't helped, telling WBBM that out of 30 customers a day, 20 would comment on the smoky smell. The owners said the smell attached itself to the clothes and shoes for sale, and that some customers even came back to return items because of it.
LaPidus told the Doings he's tried to be a good neighbor and that he believes the Urban Sole owners are looking for someone to blame.
Urban Sole closed down a second location in Hinsdale in 2008, but now the owners say they wish they had moved out of La Grange instead.
Owner Mary Kral said today that customers have been incredibly supportive as they clear out their stock.
"There's not much left," Kral said. "Sales have been phenomenal, although bittersweet."
Urban Sole is discounting everything in the store at 50 percent while they remain open.
Kral said they have been surprised by the way the story has resonated with the local media.
"We were surprised with how it's taken off," Kral said. "[Customers] are really upset about the [store's closing]. We have a really strong customer base who we're very thankful for."
Editor's Note: Michael LaPidus could not immediately be reached for comment on this story. Check back for updates.
Local Reader
2:03 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Good neighbor LaPidus.... hmmm... Where have we heard that name before?
Could it have been in 2009 http://thebusinessonlagrange.blogspot.com/2009/06/pawn-shop-in-lagrange-no-way-says.html
or was it
http://lagrangetoday.com/pawn%20shop/michael%20lapidus%20092909.html
or maybe it was something about a $45K settlement, that no doubt the taxpayers coughed up...
http://lagrange.patch.com/articles/pawnshop-lawsuit-settlement-costs-village-45k
Too bad another local business owners had to deal with him.
Joyce Petricig FIsher
5:08 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I have to agree with Local Reader. LaPidus has had several incidents with local businesses in the past; Murphy's Doghouse comes to mind as one. Could it be it's him and NOT the other businesses? I don't think he has been a good neighbor to any of the businesses.
Truth Be Told
3:37 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
You know what really stinks..................character assassination. Shame on Urban Sole.
Joyce Petricig FIsher
5:09 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I don't think it's character assassination . . . . . . . . . maybe it's the truth!
Truth Be Told
5:22 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Joyce,
First, please stop using the "................." thing when posting. That is my signature posting move and it STINKS that you decided to use it. Secondly, using the word "maybe" in your reply doesn't exactly make a forceful statement regarding your convictions on the issue. Step it up.
Truth Be Told
3:40 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
You know what really stinks................the fact that they closed a store in '08 (a sign of things to come), had marginal sales at their remaining store, couldn't weather the U.S. economic downturn and then blamed another business owner instead of blaming either a) their business plan or b) their lack of capitalization. That stinks!
Joyce Petricig FIsher
10:47 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Hmmm, didn't know you owned the rights to .................... I'm not looking for an argument; it's only an opinion, just like yours! Lighten up, bud!
Truth Be Told
3:44 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
You know what doesn't stink.......................tasty barbeque.
Truth Be Told
3:45 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
You know what really stinks...................ugly signs in window storefronts.
Truth Be Told
3:47 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
You know what stinks.........................blaming other people for your own problems instead of taking responsibility. That stinks!
Q sucks
11:53 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Q is marginal at best, and actually poor quality meat... tough and chewy.
On the other hand Urban Sole was an outstanding addition to downtown La Grange.
What a shame that the wrong business closed down.
Truth Be Told
7:35 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Let's see.....................you think the business that sold a few dozen pairs of shoes a week, employed a couple of people and went out of business twice is the business that should have survived?? Instead of the business that has lines of customers out the door, serves tasty BBQ, employs 5x the people. I'm pretty sure I don't want you as my business advisor. On the advising side I'm pretty sure we know who sucks.
Another Local Reader
8:53 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Psst, Truth Be Told, are you actually Michael LaPidus?
Matthew Hendrickson
9:56 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thanks for the passionate commenting everyone. Just a reminder though, please keep it friendly!
Truth Be Told
10:17 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
I'm not LaPidus. I'm way more handsome. I'm just a guy out there telling the truth and the truth is whether or not you personally like that guy it is childish for the other business owner to blame their next door neighbor. Let's face it, they had already closed one store, it's a down economy, they are a small boutique shoe store in an age of big box retailers, etc, etc, etc. Maybe, just maybe, it is all of those factors that caused the failure. Look at the number of similar boutique retailers that have closed in the past two years. I think it is shameful, childish and plain wrong for the owners of Urban Sole to blame their failure on this one issue. That's me.........telling the truth.
Truth Be Told
10:17 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
I agree with Matt. In the words of that great American, Rodney King., "Can't we all just get along" or perhaps the Beastie Boys, "You gotta fight for your right to party"
Matthew Hendrickson
10:27 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thanks Truth,
it's always nice to see someone cite the wise words of Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock.
Truth Be Told
10:47 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Word
Randy Clark
5:38 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2012
I would like to add two comments not really to do with the argument above but regarding Urban Sole (which my wife loved). 1. Please think local when spending your hard earned dollars. These small business owners need our support. If Urban Sole had been doing phenomenal business they would simply locate elsewhere in La Grange and this article would be about their relocation rather than closing. 2. I love and support our local restaurants but we're very close to having no other types of businesses thriving in town. This would be a shame. We have some great boutique shops, specialty shops and so-forth, let's keep them around by throwing them our support.
Paulette Delcourt
9:52 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thanks Randy--I agree with you, mostly....every small retailer seems to be suffering right now--Urban Sole managed to weather a tough downturn. Let's also remember that retail tax dollars support local municipalities--when retail sales tax receipts can't support a town's infrastructure, property taxes go up to make up the difference. Bottom line--shop local.
patrick
7:40 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Walked by Qs today. There was a big fire behind the building. What's that about?
Matthew Hendrickson
7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
From the La Grange police:
The La Grange Fire Department responded to a trash container on fire behind Q BBQ, 70 S. LaGrange Road, at about 11:21 a.m. Feb. 16. Police redirected traffic.
Sorry Pat, not much else to report.