Have a small building or storefront you want to rent cheaply? A tight-knit group of area military veterans would love to talk to you.
For years, veterans have gathered on Thursday and Saturday mornings for coffee, muffins and fellowship at Pat's Gourmet Coffee Shop in downtown Mooresville. But all that ended May 3 when shop proprietor and fellow veteran Richard Warren died.
The Main Street building's owner, who for 15 years had a handshake (and low rent) agreement with Warren, has decided to put the building up for sale. The veterans need to remove the many photos and items of military memorabilia that adorn the walls.
The memorabilia will be stored in a warehouse, said Cleveland Brown, board chairman of Welcome Home Veterans, Inc., a nonprofit organization that was born at Pat's. But finding a new meeting place will be tougher.
This week, the management of the Bob Evans restaurant at Exit 36 offered the veterans a private area on Thursdays, along with reduced coffee prices – a temporary solution that is appreciated by the veterans.
"Bob Evans has been really nice to us, but we really want to find a permanent site – a place that someone will give to us or let us have for an affordable rent," Brown said. "We need a place where we can serve a little coffee and muffins and have our (military) museum."
Catherine Scholten, whose husband Mark owns the Pat's Coffee Shop building, said the ideal situation would be to find a buyer who would preserve the coffee shop and welcome back the veterans.
"Mark would like nothing better than that," she said.
In the meanwhile, the veterans are spreading the word about their plight. If you can help them, we urge you to call Brown at 704-430-9575 or 704-895-4330.
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