My family and I came to the U.S. 30 years ago as refugees. We escaped from Vietnam by boat to look for FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY. We were blessed that the U.S. opened arms to let us in. This country gives people freedom and opportunities; that is how I have become who and what I am. I am proud of myself that I’m a successful small business lady.
Opportunity does not knock on our door. We have to look for it. I have been a business owner in BayTowne Plaza for 15 years. I own a nail salon. And I have been a Penfield resident for 13 years. My business was in Fairport before. I bought and moved my business to BayTowne because 15 years ago the plaza was busy and booming. It is such a great location, border line with Penfield and Webster. We get customers from Penfield, Webster, Ontario, Williamson, Irondequoit, etc.
I love the location and people so much, so we built our home in Penfield. We live less than a mile from BayTowne Plaza. Our subdivision is only three minutes away from the plaza. We love our neighborhood. It is such a peaceful and quiet area. We never heard any noise from the plaza as people mentioned at the Oct. 14 public hearing. I have two employees and a customer who live right next to the plaza on Pen-Web Street. They never complained of the noises and the lights from the plaza. Every time I picked up my employees from this street, I always thought it was very peaceful. The values of the houses on that street are high. There was a house for sale, and I told my sister to buy it because it had very convenient access to shops and plaza. Came to find out, the price was high and it was sold quick. Therefore the plaza has no effect on the home values.
We had lived in Gates before we moved to Penfield. I did not want to invest my money in business in Gates, because the town and the plazas were running down due to Kodak moving out or downsizing. Since Kodak moved out of Elmgrove Street, I can see all the businesses falling apart. We can see all the empty stores or businesses on West Ridge Road near Kodak falling apart. It looks like a ghost town. As a business owner, I hate to see any businesses go down. Owners of any kind of businesses put in to invest their money, time, efforts and energy to serve people better, and someday they harvest of their workmanship they put in. That is their life’s investment too.
My family and I came to the U.S. 30 years ago as refugees. We escaped from Vietnam by boat to look for FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY. We were blessed that the U.S. opened arms to let us in. This country gives people freedom and opportunities; that is how I have become who and what I am. I am proud of myself that I’m a successful small business lady.
Opportunity does not knock on our door. We have to look for it. I have been a business owner in BayTowne Plaza for 15 years. I own a nail salon. And I have been a Penfield resident for 13 years. My business was in Fairport before. I bought and moved my business to BayTowne because 15 years ago the plaza was busy and booming. It is such a great location, border line with Penfield and Webster. We get customers from Penfield, Webster, Ontario, Williamson, Irondequoit, etc.
I love the location and people so much, so we built our home in Penfield. We live less than a mile from BayTowne Plaza. Our subdivision is only three minutes away from the plaza. We love our neighborhood. It is such a peaceful and quiet area. We never heard any noise from the plaza as people mentioned at the Oct. 14 public hearing. I have two employees and a customer who live right next to the plaza on Pen-Web Street. They never complained of the noises and the lights from the plaza. Every time I picked up my employees from this street, I always thought it was very peaceful. The values of the houses on that street are high. There was a house for sale, and I told my sister to buy it because it had very convenient access to shops and plaza. Came to find out, the price was high and it was sold quick. Therefore the plaza has no effect on the home values.
We had lived in Gates before we moved to Penfield. I did not want to invest my money in business in Gates, because the town and the plazas were running down due to Kodak moving out or downsizing. Since Kodak moved out of Elmgrove Street, I can see all the businesses falling apart. We can see all the empty stores or businesses on West Ridge Road near Kodak falling apart. It looks like a ghost town. As a business owner, I hate to see any businesses go down. Owners of any kind of businesses put in to invest their money, time, efforts and energy to serve people better, and someday they harvest of their workmanship they put in. That is their life’s investment too.
From my point of view as a business owner, since Tops moved out, other businesses have gone. More than half of the plaza is empty now. My customers have complained how ugly the plaza looks. They are sick of waiting for any change. Most said they would rather not see the plaza at all than to see it running down like this. My customers and I are very happy to hear DiMarco invest their money to rebuild the plaza. We all should be happy and blessed that DiMarco wants to put their own money in to make it look better to bring in big merchants. If we don’t spend money now, how can we boost the economy and conditions? The biggest benefit is to bring in big and small merchants that will bring in jobs, and tax revenue for Penfield. I have confidence that DiMarco will make everybody’s life happier and healthier.
When I want to buy a home, I always look for the plazas and the businesses in that town. If they are booming and busy, this is a good sign; if not, then I feel the town is running down and I would not invest my money to buy a home there. DiMarco has helped to remodel my business to look better and to serve people in Penfield and Webster. There is NO landlord that would help small businesses like mine to stay in business. Some people complain that the new version of the floor plan is unsafe; I think DiMarco has not brought in drugs or nightclubs or bars that might cause un-safety. I worked in that salon for 15 years, seven days a week. I have never seen any noise, or safety issues, no trucks or loud equipment running.
I am asking the Penfield Town Board to please consider DiMarco’s investment put in to serve people better. This is a WIN-WIN situation for Penfield and the people. This change can bring in benefits for tax revenue, jobs for the people, and money poured into our town to make it look much better and help build a stronger and happy life for everyone. I have confidence that DiMarco’s investment will make the town of Penfield grow stronger in economy and life.
This is an opportunity knocking on our door — why not take it?
Holly Phan is a Penfield resident.
