Green Street Cafe updated:10.29.10

In 2005, Rachel Maddow and Susan Mikula co-hosted (as guest chefs) the first of many actions to raise money for our legal expenses and to bring community attention to the fight we were in with Smith College over our lease and the existing zoning restrictions. Rachel continued to come to the defense of our neighborhood in an address at Smith this spring:

"...you will not seek to reach your goals by stepping on the neck of your community." (Rachel Maddow Smith College Commencement 2010)

Green Street Cafe was in its tenth year of a 20- year lease when Ford Hall hit us. We were a successful business with a good rate of growth and no debt. Ford Hall opened a year ago. Once again, business is very good with a healthy rate of growth BUT the debt we accumulated during the construction years of Ford Hall is enormous and there is not enough time (2 years) remaining on our newest lease (3 in 3 years with a 50% increase in rent) to restore our financial health. Smith misspent hundreds of thousands of dollars to destroy the protections that small independent businesses rely on for their success and survival. Smith College’s actions have been outrageous and righteously condemned by their own community and the community at large. The administration seems manic in their determination to destroy us.

Again we ask the Smith community to remember their Presidents pledge to keep us "whole". Our situation needs to be realistically evaluated and responsibility taken for a solution. The time for corrective action is now, please.
John Sielski and Jim Dozmati
Green Street Cafe Northampton