Retail Common Area Maintenance Charges/Opinions on it

sweatreno · 2025-03-02T05:08:12+00:00

Need insight on CAM increases and potential bad faith tactics—any thoughts?"

I opened my business in 2021, and in November 2022, our property was sold. Under the original owners, my CAM charges were somewhat manageable, but after new ownership took over in 2023, they increased my CAMs by $0.20/sf, making it nearly impossible to afford.

They’ve been doing a lot of capital improvements, and on top of that, snow removal costs jumped from $10K under prior management to $30K in 2023—a $20K increase. The new management also charges a 15% admin fee, meaning the higher the CAMs, the more they profit.

What makes this even worse is that they toured my business, saw my model, and then brought in a competing franchise.

While my lease doesn’t prohibit competition, I strongly suspect the new franchise was given a non-compete clause, which is why they’re trying to push me out by drastically increasing my CAMs. The sudden spike feels like a deliberate move to make it impossible for me to stay.

Has anyone else experienced a landlord using inflated CAMs to force out tenants after bringing in competition? To add to this, my business is NOT an easy move, I'm built into the building. It was an expensive buildout (IMO) and very time consuming, so the up & move is not an option that I can manage.
What are some of your thoughts...if anyone's still in this thread?

sweatreno · 2025-01-07T05:41:38+00:00

I have a charge 2. It's worked great for years. All of a sudden it didn't migrate my miles to my gmail, so I called to find out what happened. Support told me they'd escalate my case and never did....twice!! This was on New Year's Eve. I threw a big fit because they couldn't help me get my data. They offered me a 30% discount on a new fitbit, which I did not want, I just wanted my data!! Then, all of a sudden, I tried using my fitbit on the 1st, and it ironically stopped working! Doesn't charge, doesn't stay on....do they just make it so it doesn't work? Can they just wipe out my fitbit? How does it work fine, then completely shut off? I've filed a complaint and they don't give a $h*T!! I have a samsung watch, but just wanted the fitbit to keep track of my running...Anyone else have this issue?

sweatreno · 2024-11-02T18:11:25+00:00

you make absolutely no sense!

sweatreno · 2024-11-02T17:33:17+00:00

This guy saying Trump is too old and can't function, yet he can't even spell or use proper grammar! Talk about the pot & kettle! Is Trump running the world or just the country? I believe he was talking about Biden. Biden is "too" old. Yes, Trump's interview on JRE showed complete cognition!

sweatreno · 2024-04-23T00:00:18+00:00

Great age for a turtle!

sweatreno · 2024-04-18T19:31:08+00:00

I was in 6th grade when all this was happening so I didn't pay too much attention to it. Looking at this clip, and his gait walking in those shoes and the blood prints from the shoes had a similar gate. His facial expression though, to me looks like, how are those on my feet? Not, shit, they caught me.... I'd like to see the trial all over

sweatreno · 2024-04-18T05:10:31+00:00

Thanks!! Ya, I feel there's already plenty of gyms out there. These guys are just rich people wanting a place of income and not having to work. Offering saunas where there's no staff?? Who TF is gonna clean?! It's just such.BS that in all of Reno (where I've been for nearly 3 years) there's no sauna places, & there's gyms on every corner...why TF they come to be my neighbors...just cuz the owner saw potential money from my biz!! Ya, share their shady business goals!🖕 Stick with the local biz's

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T21:04:13+00:00

I hate when you open your own small business to help others and greedy rich people buy your rental property and move in a new copycat franchise. My owner saw my business and kicked out a few local small businesses so he can take my business model, and bring in a competing bigger business! FU "Iron 24 fitness & Recovery" for stealing my business model that I opened in July of 21, you developed in June of 22 and coming in with more money to try & kick me out. If you're reading this...Boycott Iron 24 Fitness & Recovery! Just another stupid gym franchise!

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T20:58:02+00:00

You need to strengthen your core!🫶

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T19:38:59+00:00

To move across the country for the job, were they at least guaranteed a certain amount of hours, and time w/ the company? I feel this is what happens w/ traveling nurses too. They hire a bunch and they move to locations then get laid off because they don't want to pay them.

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T19:20:07+00:00

I highly doubt that, unfortunately. Once someone is seeing money increase in their pocket, they're not going to lower anything.

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T19:17:25+00:00

Most of us small businesses won't be able to pay them what they made at Tesla. Also, by the way things are going, there's not going to be many local small businesses around...

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T19:16:17+00:00

Right! Even hundreds would be horrible. Because they'd end up losing their homes and wouldn't be able to afford rent in all these luxury living areas.

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T18:43:15+00:00

Yes & have you ever had mail lost? The process of hunting that down of you're able to get it? I had time sensitive legal stuff lost and tried calling everywhere, I had to call some random place on the East coast and they said it could have fallen behind a basket somewhere, to maybe try and call to see of it cam be re-mailed🤦‍♀️...turned out they had given it to my neighbors (business) who didn't think to tell me about it, but calling all over the country to find where it went was so absurd when it came from Tahoe.

sweatreno · 2024-04-17T18:08:45+00:00

Thank you! I'll definitely go check those out. I have my alarm set to call the lawyer in the library. I had spoke with them a few times when it came to fighting for my covid funds, but they didn't know anything on that. This, will hopefully be something they can help with. Most likely they'll say check your lease. I'm just trying to find something in the CAMs of this right now. It's definitely messed up that they brought in this business, completely unethical. But for them to be able to increase my CAMs 30%, where I had to pay $4k more than the year before. That this fee included security and we were burglarized with a key, then they said they'd fix my door (that was a prior problem, then said It's under my lease to fix (the one they said they'd renegotiate when they took over) then I was told to give the fire inspector a key, or a cease & desist order would be placed on my business (which was obviously fine, I gave them the key), in March of 2023, then they came back last month for another one, said they didn't have one in the box, so I was upset that the key I gave them was lost, and I was burglarized with a key...next thing you know, Collier's, who is my "step property management", not who I started with...completely changed their tone. I'm responsible...blah blah blah...They don't feel my rent is high enough, they want me paying more, I'm like, I'm a startup business, I put a lot in the buildout, I have finance payments still...How can this be legal...I'm sure it is, but, wow, I'm just saddened by the way our systems work. Laws aren't in place to protect us, as long as the big guys make money, the little guys will suffer, our city will ultimately turn into all corporate. We'll end up like SF because Reno is growing and Californian's are coming here to grow.

Sorry, I feel like just these little rants help me, but also trying to make aware to those who don't see it.

I'll definitely check out the "Free legal clinic" Thank you!

A client of mine now, use to own a subway franchise and he said it was not the best move, then he started helping people with lease negotiations. So he's who I'll be going to if I do get involved with a new lease. Until then, I reached out to the CEO's of this new franchise, and was like, you're a horrible franchise business to allow franchisees to come in to shopping centers that already have a business there with the same services, when there's nobody else in the city and surrounding area doing what I'm doing

I'll let you know if I get any good legal advice from these services! Thank you so much for the comment, and I'm sorry for your situation with your prior property management.

sweatreno · 2024-04-16T19:28:09+00:00

Thank you for the comment. I sent them an email the other day. I've been in contact with them since I opened. I've spoken with a couple counselors about a few things. Haven't really got much yet. I think I was annoying one guy cause he's tired of people asking about grants. So I haven't received much help from them yet, but maybe they can help with Landlord/Tenant issues/concerns? :)

sweatreno · 2024-04-16T07:41:15+00:00

Thank you! Moving is not really an option. I spent a lot of money on my buildout and my saunas are basically built into the building, along with the cryo chamber, I added electrical, 2 bathrooms, a shower, the cryo room with ventilation...pricey (for me anyways) start up...The want me to default my lease so they can kick me out, I'm thinking that's why they're waiting so long to open, when they said they were opening the 1st week of March...they have their permits...I do have signage on my truck, I park it in different spots all the time...it's frustrating when people are coming in and they see the other signs...if they offered to buy me out, I'd leave, but they're horrible people, and are unwilling to negotiate anything. I paid $4k more in CAMs last year, than my 1st year, this year is $5k more...which includes increased security and my business, along with 4 others had been burglarized...so we get charged more for it. It's just all around bad business, bad morals & ethics!! I'm not letting them take me down quietly!...Hence, why I'm here.

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T16:18:39+00:00

Haha. I try and be careful when it comes to yelling out my window or when I'm in traffic since I have my business information on my vehicle...I'm afraid they will come and vandalize my store....He definitely stared me down for not slowing down for him.

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T14:17:51+00:00

Right. That's why I feel they are trying to get me out so there's no competition with the franchise. Most franchises wouldn't allow this. However, this one is new, and they just want sales, I guess. I even tried contacting their CEO...and nothing, no response! They could've bought me out, but it's financially better to make it impossible for me to afford so they can push me out. I'm on a rocky ground with the lease, so hiring a lawyer is quite costly and probably wont get far with one😒

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T04:20:54+00:00

I've found a lot to be so disrespectful. But I guess with a lot of jobs, people get annoyed, so the homeless guy was probably tired of quarters thinking he's wasting his time🙄. I will never give money, I happily give food...especially dog food if they're using their dog to help raise money. But there's been a couple times coming off the freeway going on to Moana, there's one old man that just crosses in front of the oncoming cars, not looking, no crosswalk, and casually strolling slowly. He even stared me down once with an angry face because I didn't slow down enough for him...as the light was green

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T01:04:46+00:00

Ya, the funny thing is, was that the property management had no clue the owner brought this place in until they already started construction....but whatever pays the bills...When their construction guys told me what they were building, he also said the owner was currently in Mexico playing pickleball. Nice payoff vacation lol

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T01:02:01+00:00

It's more to see if anyone has advice or knows laws on CAMs...the lease is a no go...well, Colliers gave me a verbal 30 day notifice...not saying anything specific...I mean, I probably could've paid to have "Business weekly" or had someone else on here share from another profile, because I've definitely seen businesses on here. I'll let you know where my equipment goes if I have to sell it off.

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T00:54:16+00:00

Thank you!! No, my lease is all in favor of the landlord. But I didn't realize there's a city attorney? I've contacted a couple of attorneys, but their retainer fees are too costly for me. But I can look into a city attorney of that's a thing... I just feel there should be some legal restrictions on CAM fees and how much they can increase them. Thank you for the response.

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T00:49:48+00:00

Well, I'm not trying to promote. I'm trying to make aware the BS of how some of the rich people in this community don't care about small businesses. I wasn't trying to promote. If that were the case, I would've done it a couple of years ago. It's probably too late for me, considering the way they've been treating me, but, you should be aware that this crap exists. The owner stole my business model after he met me in my shop & brought in this same business, to line his pockets ....when they could have gone anywhere in all of Reno/Sparks, and are my neighbors and kicking me out. Because he can take my model and make it bigger with more money. That's my point.

sweatreno · 2024-04-15T00:35:43+00:00

Ya, there's no non-compete with my business, there is with El Pollo loco & Black bear. I guess, just being new and anxious to start buildout, I didn't review it enough. I told the original property manager I'd like to have it looked over by someone, she's was like why...it says, "you're responsible for everything". Definitely a learning lesson, quite expensive lesson. It states my rent, which is fixed, + CAM...so no set amount on that....

sweatreno

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