Change is sweeping the small-business cluster along a portion of Route 38A in Owasco, near Owasco Street and Melrose Avenue - if three small businesses constitute a cluster.
For sale signs have been put up at three, long-time businesses along the same stretch of Route 38A, though that doesn't mean all the businesses are closing.
Bob and Linda Guido, owners of Guido's Town and Country Florist, are retiring from the florist and nursery business, but the store is only changing hands. It will continue to house a florist business.
John Clark, owner of Clark's Liquor Store, said he may be closing for good when he finds a buyer for his building, but he left open the possibility of relocating.
And Paul Saltarello, owner of Paul's Barber Shop, is looking to become a renter after nearly 50 years of owning his business property. Saltarello said he may have to move, but his barber shop will continue to operate.
For the Guidos, the decision to sell came when Linda Guido decided to retire and Bob Guido decided he wanted to pursue a career change. Bob has been in the nursery business since 1972, but it wasn't until 1988 that he re-located at the corner of Owasco Street and Melrose Avenue.
The location has been home to a florist-nursery for more than 100 years, operating as Hick and Son, and then as Smiley Florist until 1988, when the Guidos took over. The old name may return, however. When he was giving the new owner a tour of the building, Bob said she saw the old Smiley Florist sign and expressed interest in resurrecting the name, which it had been known by for almost 40 years.
The new owner will take over in July, and the Guidos plan to have a going away sale to show appreciation for its long-time customers.
“We've been very happy here. It's just, it's time,” he said. “It's just time for us to do something different.”
For Clark, the decision to sell was not entirely his choice, but a result of being a small business struggling to compete with his larger business counterparts.
This July, Clark's Liquor Store will have been around for 30 years. Clark's parents started the business, though Clark was a part-owner and was always intended to eventually take over.
Now, however, he said alcohol distributors prefer to make large shipments - meaning the larger stores that can accept bulk shipments have a better chance for survival.
“They're not looking to make deals with small stores,” Clark said, of the nationwide distributors taking over the industry. “It's getting to the point, like every other business, where you can't stay small.”
Clark said if it's financially feasible to re-locate to a larger location, he may consider that, but for the time being he's focusing on finding a buyer for the current location. The business has a loyal customer base made up of residents in the neighborhood, along Owasco Lake and tourists who pass through in the summer.
“A lot of people aren't happy about it,” he said. “It wasn't a bad little business.”
Saltarello said his business will definitely continue, regardless of whether his decision to rent means he has to move elsewhere. That will be good news, he said, for his customers, some of which have been loyal since 1967 when Saltarello first opened Paul's Barber Shop along Owasco Street in Auburn.
“We'll still be in Auburn,” he said. “Otherwise, the clients won't know what they will be doing.”
Saltarello's shop has been at its Owasco location since 1995. The location, he said, has been good - the simultaneous sales of the cluster of businesses appear to be coincidence.
“It's a nice location, good clientele, good neighborhood,” Saltarello said. “It just happened that at the same time, we all put the signs up.”
the nursery business since 1972, but it wasn't until 1988 that he re-located at the corner of Owasco Street and Melrose Avenue.
The location has been home to a florist-nursery for more than 100 years, operating as Hick and Son, and then as Smiley Florist until 1988, when the Guidos took over. The old name may return, however. When he was giving the new owner a tour of the building, Bob said she saw the old Smiley Florist sign and expressed interest in resurrecting the name, which it had been known by for almost 40 years.
The new owner will take over in July, and the Guidos plan to have a going away sale to show appreciation for their long-time customers.
“We've been very happy here. It's just, it's time,” he said. “It's just time for us to do something different.”
For Clark, the decision to sell was not entirely his choice, but a result of being a small business struggling to compete with his larger business counterparts.
This July, Clark's Liquor Store will have been around for 30 years. Clark's parents started the business, though Clark was a part-owner and was always intended to eventually take over.
Now, however, he said alcohol distributors prefer to make large shipments - meaning the larger stores that can accept bulk shipments have a better chance for survival.
“They're not looking to make deals with small stores,” Clark said, of the nationwide distributors taking over the industry. “It's getting to the point, like every other business, where you can't stay small.”
Clark said if it's financially feasible to relocate to a larger location, he may consider that, but for the time being he's focusing on finding a buyer for the current location. The business has a loyal customer base made up of residents in the neighborhood, along Owasco Lake and tourists who pass through in the summer.
“A lot of people aren't happy about it,” he said. “It wasn't a bad little business.”
Saltarello said his business will definitely continue, regardless of whether his decision to rent means he has to move elsewhere. That will be good news, he said, for his customers, some of which have been loyal since 1967 when Saltarello first opened Paul's Barber Shop along Owasco Street in Auburn.
“We'll still be in Auburn,” he said. “Otherwise, the clients won't know what they will be doing.”
Saltarello's shop has been at its Owasco location since 1995. The location, he said, has been good - the simultaneous sales of the cluster of businesses appear to be coincidence.
“It's a nice location, good clientele, good neighborhood,” Saltarello said. “It just happened that at the same time, we all put the signs up.”
Bob and Linda Guido, owners of Guido's Town and Country Florist, are retiring from the florist and nursery business, but the store is only changing hands. It will continue to house a florist business.
John Clark, owner of Clark's Liquor Store, said he may be closing for good when he finds a buyer for his building, but he left open the possibility of relocating.
And Paul Saltarello, owner of Paul's Barber Shop, is looking to become a renter after nearly 50 years of owning his business property. Saltarello said he may have to move, but his barber shop will continue to operate.
For the Guidos, the decision to sell came when Linda Guido decided to retire and Bob Guido decided he wanted to pursue a career change. Bob has been in the nursery business since 1972, but it wasn't until 1988 that he re-located at the corner of Owasco Street and Melrose Avenue.
The location has been home to a florist-nursery for more than 100 years, operating as Hick and Son, and then as Smiley Florist until 1988, when the Guidos took over. The old name may return, however. When he was giving the new owner a tour of the building, Bob said she saw the old Smiley Florist sign and expressed interest in resurrecting the name, which it had been known by for almost 40 years.
The new owner will take over in July, and the Guidos plan to have a going away sale to show appreciation for its long-time customers.
“We've been very happy here. It's just, it's time,” he said. “It's just time for us to do something different.”
For Clark, the decision to sell was not entirely his choice, but a result of being a small business struggling to compete with his larger business counterparts.
This July, Clark's Liquor Store will have been around for 30 years. Clark's parents started the business, though Clark was a part-owner and was always intended to eventually take over.
Now, however, he said alcohol distributors prefer to make large shipments - meaning the larger stores that can accept bulk shipments have a better chance for survival.
“They're not looking to make deals with small stores,” Clark said, of the nationwide distributors taking over the industry. “It's getting to the point, like every other business, where you can't stay small.”
Clark said if it's financially feasible to re-locate to a larger location, he may consider that, but for the time being he's focusing on finding a buyer for the current location. The business has a loyal customer base made up of residents in the neighborhood, along Owasco Lake and tourists who pass through in the summer.
“A lot of people aren't happy about it,” he said. “It wasn't a bad little business.”
Saltarello said his business will definitely continue, regardless of whether his decision to rent means he has to move elsewhere. That will be good news, he said, for his customers, some of which have been loyal since 1967 when Saltarello first opened Paul's Barber Shop along Owasco Street in Auburn.
“We'll still be in Auburn,” he said. “Otherwise, the clients won't know what they will be doing.”
Saltarello's shop has been at its Owasco location since 1995. The location, he said, has been good - the simultaneous sales of the cluster of businesses appear to be coincidence.
“It's a nice location, good clientele, good neighborhood,” Saltarello said. “It just happened that at the same time, we all put the signs up.”
the nursery business since 1972, but it wasn't until 1988 that he re-located at the corner of Owasco Street and Melrose Avenue.
The location has been home to a florist-nursery for more than 100 years, operating as Hick and Son, and then as Smiley Florist until 1988, when the Guidos took over. The old name may return, however. When he was giving the new owner a tour of the building, Bob said she saw the old Smiley Florist sign and expressed interest in resurrecting the name, which it had been known by for almost 40 years.
The new owner will take over in July, and the Guidos plan to have a going away sale to show appreciation for their long-time customers.
“We've been very happy here. It's just, it's time,” he said. “It's just time for us to do something different.”
For Clark, the decision to sell was not entirely his choice, but a result of being a small business struggling to compete with his larger business counterparts.
This July, Clark's Liquor Store will have been around for 30 years. Clark's parents started the business, though Clark was a part-owner and was always intended to eventually take over.
Now, however, he said alcohol distributors prefer to make large shipments - meaning the larger stores that can accept bulk shipments have a better chance for survival.
“They're not looking to make deals with small stores,” Clark said, of the nationwide distributors taking over the industry. “It's getting to the point, like every other business, where you can't stay small.”
Clark said if it's financially feasible to relocate to a larger location, he may consider that, but for the time being he's focusing on finding a buyer for the current location. The business has a loyal customer base made up of residents in the neighborhood, along Owasco Lake and tourists who pass through in the summer.
“A lot of people aren't happy about it,” he said. “It wasn't a bad little business.”
Saltarello said his business will definitely continue, regardless of whether his decision to rent means he has to move elsewhere. That will be good news, he said, for his customers, some of which have been loyal since 1967 when Saltarello first opened Paul's Barber Shop along Owasco Street in Auburn.
“We'll still be in Auburn,” he said. “Otherwise, the clients won't know what they will be doing.”
Saltarello's shop has been at its Owasco location since 1995. The location, he said, has been good - the simultaneous sales of the cluster of businesses appear to be coincidence.
“It's a nice location, good clientele, good neighborhood,” Saltarello said. “It just happened that at the same time, we all put the signs up.”
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