WILLARD, Mo. (KY3) - Several small business owners in Willard are uncertain about their future after learning their rental costs will increase dramatically when their leases are renewed.

The East Center shopping complex in Willard houses several small businesses. Within the last few weeks, a new company bought the property and told the businesses their rent would be going up.

Donna Stewart has been running her small business, the In and Out’let, in a rented space at the East Center for most of the past year. She said she and other tenants found out just a few weeks ago that the property had a new owner and, with that, a big rent increase.

“$3,000, actually, it’s $3,088. We signed per month, and we signed a one-year lease,” Stewart said of her current rent.

Stewart explained, “That the

See Full Page