Locally (here in beautiful tiny Kenwood):
Guy wanted to start a hardware store on main road, but it wasn't zoned for commercial. Still it would be unobtrusive and, there was community desire for such a convenience. Petitions, etc. Finally it is approved.
Guy (family actually) renovates this leased former house, starts business. It works (seemed to) - even though couldn't match chain prices, quality stuff and worth the saved trip to some subsidiary of The One (Wal)Mart USA.
Then.. about a year later +/- .. owner decides to cancel lease; wants to "sell" the property. Screw the heavy investment advance in time - good-faith contract yada yada (And natch: screw any community opinion). He lost the lease..
Yan yan *$&*$$# Wine-tasting shill place replaces the useful hardware store (and joins THREE other wine tasting shill places). Hdwre folks lost lots of 'on spec' work and expense.
*THIS* is what 'capitalism' has come to mean in Murica; not anything like what the Econ BS pretends re. demand, supply and that fanciful feel-good Market icon. This was a patent scam from the first and.. it taints any bonafide efforts to answer community needs anywhere.
And they got away with it. Surely it's now in The Entrepreneur's Guide to Legal Scams
Ashton
Sign on local Contractor's bumper..
Die! Yuppie Scum