While the discussion regarding the Riviera’s former vendor in Unit M on the Main concourse finally comes to a close, the alleged ‘mystery’ of the space not renewed by the prior tenant is actually not such a mystery after all.  After a decade in that space, the tenant is now crying foul locally by implying the non-lease renewal “letter never indicated why or what the complaints were.”  They further state” We were blindsided, they won’t tell us what the issues and complaints are.” The truth is, they did know, and have known almost daily/weekly/monthly of the complaints issued by so many of the other tenants on the main concourse.  They had been talked to for a very long time and frequently by the city administrator, the past and present Harbormasters, the city Aldermen, and the Riviera Maintenance regarding the various complaints against them during every day they have been open to the public. To suddenly go public with cries of being ‘blindsided and told nothing’ is grossly incorrect on their part.

So, what really happened to force the city’s hand to have asked the city council to review the many ongoing issues of the two people business owners from Unit M, that caused the council to vote unanimously not to renew the lease and require the owners to vacate the unit?  Well, there were a lot of ongoing complaints from the other many tenants and city Staff, of the continuous Unit M’s owners’ questionable behaviors and witnessed devious activities towards other businesses daily, to re-route other tenants’ customers to their “own” window instead, by implying the other businesses served, rotten/spoiled food, the other business wasn’t “sanitary”, their food was better and invite them to their window, and the list goes on and on.  These complaints came from the other tenants who saw the almost daily activity unfold.  Those other tenants who complained did not want their names mentioned for fear of certain retaliation from the Unit M owners. In addition, they also went against policy and took more and more liberties by erecting exterior signs and expanding their displays, regardless of the corrections given to them by management.  Now public, the Rivera Unit M business owners; Theresa Poetzinger and Michael McHale of Nina’s Popcorn have disclosed to other media sources their names voluntarily.

However, it should be noted the city has kept their names/businesses confidential to the public. Nina’s Popcorn originally came to the Rivera boasting about a “family recipe of Funnel Cakes” with the intent to just sell their funnel cakes and that is how they started.  However, over time, they decided on their own to start selling items that were already being sold by other tenants: Popcorn, and that is when the issues began. Nina’s Funnel cakes then became Nina’s Popcorn. To hear they are now indicating publicly that “several of the other tenants were disappointed and besides themselves” of their not coming back since losing their lease, is a head-scratcher, while most of the tenants were already gone at season end.

The good news moving forward:  The Rivera Unit M has now been leased to a business called: Geneva Lake Mini Donut Company. Owners Paul Ochalek and Cathy Griffith are well-established local business owners of the existing ‘Great Eggs Breakfast Bungalow’, on 220 Cook St. Lake Geneva. Incredibly kind people who are truly warmly welcomed to the Riviera. Their menu consists of, doughnuts, coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, lemonade, and smoothies!