The University is souring a sweet deal for Chapel Hill by refusing to sell Sugarland the space it needs to expand.
In a sputtering economy that has left many a storefront vacant, UNC is being picky in denying the bakery additional space because it would compromise diversity and finances downtown if a building was mostly inhabited by eateries.
UNC should do Chapel Hill a favor and relax its draconian stance, or risk running a local legend out of town.
Katrina Ryan, the store’s owner, said the University’s opposition to her expanding next door has forced her to strongly consider relocating to Raleigh. It’s a fair ultimatum given the “crummy” lease and poor explanation she says she has received from the University.
Jeff Kidd, director of the UNC Property Office, said the finances and diversity of nearby storefronts led to the University’s decision. That two-pronged reasoning is backwards on both fronts, as the dessert shop’s strong finances, unique offerings and homegrown history give it added value on a street that many chains have invaded.
Sugarland — and its hold on Chapel Hill’s luxury sweet spot — is a good bet for the future.
Chapel Hill has more to offer than exceptional scholarship and college athletics. It has a rich artistic and culinary culture that would be at a loss without Sugarland. In 2010, the Food Network featured the dessert store for its gelato and frozen martinis, and the (Raleigh) News & Observer voted its Spumoni cupcake the best in the Triangle area.
The review site Yelp.com even went as far as to call it the 10th best cupcake place in the entire country.
This is not the right time or place to take this stand, and the University should do everything in its power to keep Sugarland local. Stores making money and creating jobs should be more desirable than a gamble on whatever might make the space more “diverse.”
