Mayor Mathews: We Made a Mistake
Kennesaw mayor admits city officials were wrong in allowing a pawn shop to locate in a shopping center near Mack Dobbs Road.
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About 50 residents from the Summer Brooke and Summer Stream neighborhoods gathered Monday to hear the latest developments with a controversial pawn shop.
City officials admit they were wrong when Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan was allowed to open in the Mack Dobbs Point strip mall last year, despite a 2004 agreement prohibiting pawn shops from the property.
Now city officials are weighing possible solutions to the issue, which was brought to light by Kennesaw resident Bill Harris.
"We approved this application erroneously, and it's a very unfortunate oversight," said Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews. "We're taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again."
A hearing is scheduled for April 2 at the 6:30 p.m. city council meeting, and Mathews said one of three things can be done at that meeting: 1) Find no fault; 2) suspend the business license for a period of time and the business would close; or 3) revoke the license.
At Monday's meeting, a Summer Brooke resident said a petition has been signed by 75 of 112 residents wanting the pawn shop removed from the strip mall.
Nancy Johnson of Kennesaw spoke on behalf of pawn shop owners Serena and John Cruchelow. She said he hated to see their hard work and investment closed down.
"They couldn't come and defend themselves right now, so somebody has to tell their side," said Johnson, adding the Cruchelows put $18,000 toward renovations in the building. "These are two good people trying to start a business."
Mayor Mathews said the name violation alone was a serious matter and the pawn shop was in the wrong by having used the term 'Jewelry and Loan' when the Georgia Code completely bars that 'Loan' usage for any pawn shops opened after 1992.
Most in attendance said they had no ill will toward the pawn shop owners, but were angry at the strip mall owner, Celestino Venturi, for going against what he agreed to in 2004.
Mathews said there will be a winner and a loser in the situation. "I apologize to all of our residents," said Mathews, adding a solution will come as quickly as legally possible. "That's not the way we do business. We don't hide from our problems."
Read more about the circumstances and history surrounding the pawn shop issue here.
In This article
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Mark Mathews
Joined Patch Monday, November 29, 2010 -
Kennesaw City Hall
2529 J O Stephenson Ave NW, Kennesaw, GA -
Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan
2953 Cobb Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA (Suites 1 & 2)
Bill
11:20 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Mayor Mathews and the City Commission should not go into their April 2nd meeting thinking that simply giving a 'variance' to this shop is going to be acceptable to the residents around that mall.
We are well aware that they are looking for a way to side step the issue and doing so will be a serious mistake. Sitting on fences can be a very uncomfortable position to be in. I suggest that they now make a firm decision and close down the pawn shop.
Bill
12:47 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Perhaps the Mayor and City Commission should consider that using the term 'residents' of the area is a bit misleading, try thinking 'voters' instead.
How many votes will allowing the Pawn Shop to remain vs. how many votes will you get by doing the right thing and making them depart?
Judging from the turnout at the meeting last evening it seemed that only one person in about 50 attending was supporting the pawn shop. I don't think that mayors or city councilmen often get re-elected by playing to the 2% of the population vs. the 98% who take up important local issues.
We expect firm and decisive action on this matter, not six elected officials who want to sit on a fence. So you are either 'with us' or you are 'against us' and keep in mind that if you opt for a variance to allow the shop to remain that puts you in the 'against us' category.
Molly Weber
3:12 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I was wondering why this got approved. However, it seems to me that Kennesaw lacks in the quaulity of its business establishments. We have more than enough nail salons, dry cleaners, auto parts stores, tires stores and drug stores! Where are the quality restaraunts, bakeries, coffee shops, and gift shops. We should take a lesson from Downtown Acworth and the West Cobb Avenues. Come on, lets kick it up a notch Kennesaw!
rEgJr
7:02 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
"Give Me A Break!"
[Nancy Johnson of Kennesaw spoke on behalf of pawn shop owners Serena and John Cruchelow. She said he hated to see their hard work and investment closed down.]
["They couldn't come and defend themselves right now, so somebody has to tell their side," said Johnson.]
Well Nancy, “get in line” because you've been lied to as has previously the City of Kennesaw! I know this because I was home and debating on whether or not I wanted to attend this particular meeting due to that I had already testified under oath to the Mayor and his council regarding the Cruchelow’s bragging about how they pulled one over on the city to get their “pawn shop” in place. I indeed stayed home; moreover, my wife and I spent the evening in our backyard playing with our children.
rEgJr
7:03 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Once again, unfortunately, John and Serena are my direct next door neighbors, and they both were outside as well “getting loaded” (couldn’t resist) as they always do each evening. They certainly “could have” attended and “spoke up/ defend” for themselves! Conversely, I mentioned the Cruchelow’s getting loaded for the simple reason to show that indeed they were home, drinking, etcetera and obviously had plenty opportunity to appear.
You and whomever else that sides with the Cruchelow’s need to be fully aware that you had and still are being manipulated and lied to.
There is plenty more factual evidence that the Cruchelow’s continue to be dishonest and defraud everyone to include their neighbors and I’m not the only neighbor that feels this way!
Bill
8:06 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE APRIL 2nd CITY COUNCIL MEETING?
The business license will be revoked as the business will be found to be in violation of Georgia Code - Property - Title 44, Section 44-12-138 which says at (a)(1): . . . A pawnbroker shall not use the term 'loan' in any advertisements or in connection with any advertising of the business of the pawnbroker"
The business name itself (Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan) violates the Georgia Code as the stated 'purpose of the business' is listed as "Pawn Shop" in the application for a business license.
On April 3rd the business will not reopen.
It is not necessary to address the issue of a 'mistake' on the part of the City of Kennesaw in issuing the license nor it is necessary to consider any subsequent application for a variance.
The title of the business itself coupled with the stated purpose of the business is enough to require the City Commission to revoke the business license.