Chesterbrook Barbershop Mclean forced out

[Anonymous]

Disappointed to hear today that this long term business located on Old Dominion in Mclean has been told their lease would not be renewed.
They have paid their bills on time and have been a part of this shopping center for 60 years. They were told they are not high end enough for new shopping owners preference. Clearly owner clueless that people in this neighborhood are loyal and do not like good businesses run by immigrants to being pushed out. I am shocked and disappointed. I hate to go political but again this is a business run by first gen folks and it just doesn’t seem right.

[Anonymous]

Who are these first gen immigrants?

Typical businesses close because they can't pay their rent. If the rent was paid on time, they may have grounds to sue for discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Hoping an attorney who uses this shop reads and reaches out to offer help. Someone needs to help vulnerable businesses. We heard they are devastated and not sure what to do. This is story is making its way around McLean. Not a lawyer but if I was I would offer help.

[Anonymous]

Terrible! Chesterbrook is a joke.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if this could be a good news story on immigrant businesses? The very thought that someone isn’t considered high end. What does that even mean but bad things. This is a business that sat fine for 60 years. Suddenly they are not good enough?

[Anonymous]

What if they are planning to lease to a more recent immigrant?

[Anonymous]

As someone who was has worked in retail leasing I would caution against jumping to conclusions on motive. The company that owns that center is local and they are known to be a landlord that supports local businesses. Sometimes there is more to the story than is shared with the public.

[Anonymous]

I know the owners of this shop. They are so nice and humble people. This is a shop who cuts first haircut for kids and has loyal customers for life. The last fancy salon didn’t last long fyi. Is it a fancy shop? No but they pay their bills on time. This is a horrible thing to do to people. The owners of this shopping center should understand that some of these fancy shops will be out of there quickly if they do not make numbers and will not renew on their own. You need longterm tenants as well. The space in this shop is not huge also so the idea they cannot make room. Crazy. The funny thing is they have a dog daycare in this shopping center so not like there is a Tiffany’s in there. Hope the owners reconsider. There is a lot of love for this shop. There is also a lot of love for immigrant families who work there.

[Anonymous]

Why does “immigrant” matter at all in this story?
It’s a successful business that has abided by the terms of their lease.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know the barbershop but highly recommend Sorn Thai! The owner is a local and there all the time and the food is incredible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the barbershop but highly recommend Sorn Thai! The owner is a local and there all the time and the food is incredible!

Really? I thought it was so-so. Maybe I'll give it another try.

[Anonymous]

Rode my bike there in 1967 when it opened, and got a hair cut, I was 13. Lived on old dominion. As i remember the man that started that business was Ernie. As i got older, Bill price was my guy. After Bill got old enough and retired its been lou. Still live on old dominion a mile from where i started. Chesterbrook was always a simple place. Its simple like mclean has been simple. Peggy told me last week when i stopped in for by bi-monthly cut all about this. I told her its the clientele that makes the "barber shop". I go in there and run into men and women that I've known for 50+ years. All of us made McLean what it is. A lot of us have owned businesses around Tysons corner, and into McLean. I don't see a problem with this barbershop. Ever since they got tucked over in the corner, to hide them, things have been more of a struggle. But they don't do anything wrong, to deserve what I hear is happening. They've kept the prices very reasonable. Us old timers as well as young families living in the area appreciate an affordable haircut for their kids. I just don't get it. Anything for more money, anything to raise the rent. I enjoyed a better bunch of landlords, they were different then. Now it's just greed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoping an attorney who uses this shop reads and reaches out to offer help. Someone needs to help vulnerable businesses. We heard they are devastated and not sure what to do. This is story is making its way around McLean. Not a lawyer but if I was I would offer help.

I feel bad for them, but if the terms of the lease were followed, you cannot force the landlord to rent to them just because they have in the past. Is there something that makes you think something unlawful has happened?

[Anonymous]

You vote in Democrats and socialists then get mad when socialist principles start taking over the city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You vote in Democrats and socialists then get mad when socialist principles start taking over the city?

How is this blamed on Democrats and socialists? The landlord - a private business - is doing this.