LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) – A family-owned business is being forced out of Lebanon Outlet Mall after a new management company terminated its lease early.
“They shut us down immediately as if we were scum. It’s disrespectful and hurtful what’s supposed to be done in the interim?” Tamikia White of Sea Sacs asked.
The owners of Seafood Sacs said their lease was up in February next year.
However, last week they were told it was terminated early and they must be out by August 26.
“This is very disrespectful and inhumane to us,” Tamikia said.
Ronaldo and Tamikia White started selling Cajun-style seafood from their food trailer more than four years ago. In 2021, they moved to Lebanon Outlet Mall.
“As you can see, this is a deadly situation and we were approached to come in and help with the foot traffic. We held up our end of the bargain,” Tamikia said.
Their service is the only business within the food field.
“We were responsible for bringing life to this part of the dilapidated facility,” Tamikia said.
However, last week they were told they had to leave much earlier than expected as new management recently bought the mall.
“There was no justification as to why it was being discontinued. We have never had problems, complaints, any kind of inconsistency with the management,” said Ronaldo.
“And then boom, this place of furniture just moved on top of us,” Tamikia added.
A furniture store has already partially moved into the food court.
“No one is talking to me about compensating me for my losses or future profits for what we’ve invested here or buying out the remainder of my lease for this wonderful furniture company that they just dumped on us,” Tamikia said. .
Now they have less than 30 days to find a new space — something they said just isn’t enough time.
“We’re the only ones I know who were forcibly evicted,” Tamikia said.
“Now we’re stuck in a position where we have to find another place to keep our customer base that we’ve worked so hard to get,” added Ronaldo.
In February 2021, the new owners of Lebanon Outlet Mall filed rezoning plans to build a high-rise, mixed-use development in the center.
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News 2 reached out to the Mackenzie management company, which the White family has been communicating with, but we have not heard back.
