From Harford County Council District A Councilman Dion Guthrie:
Mr. Richard Redner
President and CEO
Redner’s Markets
#3 Quarry Road
Reading, PA 19605
Mr. David Cordish
President and CEO
Cordish Company
601 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Mr. Redner and Mr. Cordish:
I am writing to appeal to both of you to help the citizens of our County and particularly in my district to resolve a “big” problem. It is publicly recognized that you are involved in litigation under civil action No. RDB-11-1864 (Redner’s Markets, Inc. Plaintiff V. Joppatowne G.P. Limited). This case affects all residents of the Joppatowne area. This dispute appears to surround Redner’s lease including a “no compete” clause and Cordish agreeing to lease space to the Amish, thereby violating Redner’s pre-existing lease.
I have met both of you and found both of you to be reasonable people and it’s my hope “cooler” heads will prevail. If one would stop and analyze this entire dispute and try to find some middle ground, I think everyone would realize that doing so is a “quid pro quo” and everyone benefits.
My wife and I do all of our grocery shopping at Redner’s and some at the Joppatowne shopping center. We have seen people go between both buildings and shop at both markets on numerous occasions. We have seen people dressed in traditional Amish clothing also shopping at Redner’s.
I am disappointed that you can’t find middle ground to resolve this disagreement. I am willing to use my services in order to mediate this dispute, if at all possible. In addition, Harford County provides a free mediation service that you may want to consider using. If something is not done, I only see matters getting worse.
The following petition is being circulated by the community:
PETITION TO SAVE THE AMISH MARKET At the JOPPATOWNE FLEA MARKET We, the undersigned are signing this petition as a show of support for the Amish Market in the Joppatowne Flea Market. As community members, vendors, and customers it is our intention to boycott Redner’s Grocery Store due to their efforts to close the Amish Market. We will not shop at nor visit any of the Redner’s location as long as they continue their campaign to put the Amish and market vendors out of business.
I stopped by this shopping center this past Saturday and reviewed a four inch thick stack of signed petitions. Each page holds 31 names and I was told that more than 10,000 signatures have been collected.
Again, It is my hope that this case does not proceed to the detriment of Joppatowne and we can all find some middle of the road because regardless of who is at fault, the Citizens of Joppatowne will pay the price. Between Cordish and Redner’s “other ” interests, we are but a “small potato” in a big patch. But, it is our “patch,” please do not spoil our “patch.”
Respectfully,
Dion F. Guthrie
Harford County Council Member
District A
Stop saying the Amish Market is closing. Only Lapp Meats is closing. Talk about mountain out of a mole hill
There still is a pending lawsuit to close other stalls at the Amish market.
That is correct.
@Dion
Wholly inappropriate for a an elected official to publicly blog about an active civil matter for the parties to resolve in court or settle out-of-court.
Neither Mr. Redner or Mr. Cordish should respond when the matter is in a state of active litigation.
You should be admonished by the Harford County Council for your unwarranted intrusion and intervention.
Now get your head out of your behind and stop your foolish grandstanding.
I am not a fan of Mr. Guthrie but to suggest that he should not speak up on behalf of his constituents about concerns they have brought to his attention is off base and would violate his basic constitutional protection of freedom of speech.
Thank you. That is something I have always done and always do.
How about you speak out on record with regards to your position to the newly passed rainfall tax that is now imposed on us Harford County residents by the State of Maryland,
do you support or reject this new tax?
That has nothing to do with the situation between Redners and the Amish. Pick another thread if you want to debate the rain tax.
JC, it sounds like you’re being snide here, my apologies if you are not. In fact, don’t even read the rest.
If you paid attention at all, you would know what his stance on that issue is, because he has stated it for the record several times. He has stated it in County Council meetings, and he has stated it in various community council meetings, several times over the last 2-3 months. His normal statement is something along the lines of “worst law to ever come out of Annapolis” or similar.
You obviously haven’t gone to any of these public meetings, or weren’t paying attention if you did, or couldn’t muster up the time to read the minutes or even just turn on the tv to watch a council meeting, or even just send an email to the fellow because I’m quite sure if you had asked he would have been happy to speak at length on the subject.
There are numerous ways to communicate to and from our government and elected officials, and too often people make no effort to do so and then get all excited about not being listened to.
Since this issue is completely unrelated, I’ll stop there.
Sorry, I was replying to Luther, not JC, sorry for any confusion.
I AM a fan of Mr. Guthrie. He is doing his job (as usual) in trying to preserve both businesses. If it weren’t for his efforts, Joppatowne Plaza would still be moldering with empty stores rather than having a grocery store. I totally agree with his comments and I support his efforts to help. I think that there is enough business to support both Redner’s and the Amish Market.
People think of “the Amish” as sweet little people in buggies and old-fashioned garb. Hey…I bet if it was a Muslim market, there would be no one against Redners. I support them 100% and think the politicians need to stay out of it. Do they not understand contracts? Probably not.
You’re on it “Sunshine”…..a contract is a contract, and Cordish appears to be in violation. Wake up “petitioners” and follow the rule of law and support Redner’s (you’re damn lucky to have them in Joppatowne). Remember when you didn’t?
Don’t the Amish have some of the biggest Puppy Mills ? They treat those dogs like garbage. Once the dog cant breed anymore they kill it.
and then they sell the meat
How will we pay the price of a landlord tenant dispute being litigated in court? By using up all our paper on petitions? Eating less meat? Having one less stall in the flea market? Close that mess and put in a professional building. We are between White Marsh and Bel Air and could use an urgent care center with some dentists, GPs, PTs, optometrists and other specialists on an appointment basis.
Thanks to Dion for offering his assistance in resolving this dispute in a manner that will benefit the many who appreciate the benefits provided by both Redner’s and all of the vendors in the Amish/flea market complex. He is, as usual, taking an active part in serving the community.
Mr Guthrie:
What purpose does having this letter published serve? The letter is clearly aimed at strong arming Redners, who has been backed by a court decision to not be at fault, to give away what is legally theirs. Mentioning the Amish customers in their store and a petition with 10,000 suspect signatures is not how one negotiates to reach middle ground. If I were Redners I would be pursuing measures to get out of that 20 year lease and let that shopping center revert back to it’s former ghost town days.
Mr Guthrie be happy Redners is there to give jobs to your local kids and their parents., be happy they pay a lot of taxes to the state and county and keep the money local. But most of all Mr Guthrie realize one thing, you suck at being a mediator, stick to public grandstanding with dumb letters…. that you are great at.
Mr. Rabbit
I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Guthrie in this matter, even though we agree rarely. This dispute didn’t need to reach this point if all the parties involved were willing to sit down to discuss the problem and to see if a mutually beneficial outcome could be reached, without the burden of expensive and costly litigation, which is divisive to the community. There is still time for an accommodation to be reached.
Yes, Redner’s was injured by Cordish and, yes, it proved this in court. Yes, it has a financial interest in keeping the whole shopping district vibrant and full of customers who will visit all of the shops. Not all things in life are about total victory and I congratulate Mr. Guthrie for noticing that this is not the time or place for scorched earth tactics.
Mr. Gabel, you have hit the nail on the head and focused on the intent and content of Mr. Guthrie’s attempt at finding some middle ground. Being 100% right or wrong will not serve any purpose in this dispute. It makes no difference if this is about Amish or Islamists or Orthodox Catholics or any other group. It’s 100% about what is likely to serve the most people well.
You do not understand the process of negotiation and mediation. In order to meet in the middle both sides gain a little and both sides lose a little. Mr Guthries solution is Redners gains nothing except some sort of neblas promise people will shop there. Just another liberal politician trying to redistribute the wealth.
I thought conservatives were all about the free market and competition being a good thing because it provides choices to consumers and lowers prices. This sounds like the big corporation trying to snuff out the little guy. And so anyone doesn’t jump to conclusions I am a conservative Republican.
Actually conservatives are about governing by the laws of this great country and not by emotions. You should try it.
“this great country”…your arrogance is as stunning as your blindness to the deterioration of the good ol’ USA. The US is no longer the beacon of hope for the world and will likely be a footnote in history.
So let me get this straight. Because it is the law that makes it ok. Lets see, slavery was once the law, prohibition of inter racial marriage was once against the law, segregation of public schools and facilities was legal, the alien and sedition act made it a crime to speak out against government actions, the law now permits the government to arbitrarily confiscate your phone and email records. Because it is the law now does not make it just or mean it will not change. And sense you are hanging your hat on the law, remember this case has been appealed. A higher court may see things differently than your interpretation of the law. I’ll bet you are in favor of the rain tax too – that is the law.
If you don’t like a law change it, but no matter how emotional you get till it is changed, your are bound by it.
Now go take a pill before you blow out a blood vessel.
More like Jack Ass instead of Jack Rabbit.
When all you have left is name calling you have clearly lost the argument.
For Jack Rabbit: The gain for Redner’s would be the continued draw of people whose main destination may be the flea and Amish market, but who shop at Redner’s as well. Flea markets without the Amish are more prone to failure. I think the fear/concern is that the property will return to its status as an abandoned K-Mart, thereby harming all the business located there, as well as the community as a whole. While this isn’t guaranteed to happen, it is easier for every to act now, rather than to lure a new tenant into the building.
Rule of law conversations aren’t really relevant to this conversation. Right now we are discussing the potential after effects of the rule of law, which was Redner’s district court victory.
Funny how Dion Guthrie can come on here to address Redners and The Amish, but he can’t address his constituents about the crime infestation on Gremplar Way! True politician.
For your information I have been very involved in the Grempler Way [you spelled it wrong] problem. I have had a meeting today with the sheriff Dept on that subject and have 2 more plan before the week is out. I am not aloud to say any more at this time.
Maybe instead of a meeting, you should move there for a year so you can see the problems first hand.
You shouldn’t point out spelling errors when your post contains several word errors.
Allowed (you spelled it wrong). Now that the English lesson is complete, can you Mr. Guthrie, get back to real matters and protect Edgewood Citizens and ensure our youth have a future ahead of them.
Cordish has violated their contract with Redner’s – plain and simple. To boycott Redner’s is just wrong. Perhaps Cordish could offer a reduction in the lease payment to compensate Redner’s
for lost sales in return for withdrawing the lawsuit. BTW – I frequent both establishments and am
glad to have them.
My family also frequents both but it doesn’t matter to me what happens. If the Amish market goes downhill then Redner’s will also be injured. And they know that. This is just a ploy to get leverage on their lease.
On the other hand, I am in Hunt Valley frequently and will just go to the Amish Market there. And if there is no Amish Market in Joppatown then I’ll be at Wegman’s exclusively – no reason to go just for Redner’s.
Redners has every right to include a NO COMPETE clause in their lease and if Cordish didn’t plan to honor the contract then they should not
have SIGNED the contract, allowed Redners to occupy the space and conduct business.
This is an essential clause to keep competitors out. How would you like to see a safeway directly next door to a giant food or a CVS right next door to a Rite Aid?
If Cordish violated this clause then they are in violation of the contract – case closed for the Amish.
Although I have no issue with the Amish, they have no legal right to peddle their goods there PERIOD.
The issue here is not the Amish but the violation of the Redner’s contract.
You are so right – Redner’s in NOT the one at fault here. Cordish has not only violated it’s lease agreement with Redner’s but has also driven out a lot of other businesses in the shopping center (Pizza Hut, the hair cutting place, Curves, etc.) with their high rent increases and not fixing anything that needs fixing.
Redner’s was the only one who decided to give Joppatowne what they really needed – a decent grocery store so we didn’t have to run to Edgewood or Abingdon to shop at a decent grocery store. I for one love Redner’s. They support the community, our kids and local clubs such as the Joppatowne Women’s Club. They give us discounts for our gas for doing what we would do anyway – buying groceries. And they are open 24/7. Are their any other stores who would do that? Is Wegman’s open 24/7? Stop blaming the innocent party here and put the blame where the blame needs to go – Cordish. As for the so called petition that was circulated – people were told to sign the petition against Redner’s because they were trying to close down the Amish Market and that is not true – only certain stores in the Amish market that violate their contract.
That’s what I was told when approached by someone who worked in the flea market to sigh the petition. So STOP making Redner’s out to be the bad guy in this!!
Redner’s has the right to demand the closing of the stalls, and the public has the right to petition Redner’s to allow the stalls to remain, or refuse to shop at Redner’s now that the terms of the lease have been made public.
I do believe that there is a small matter called “free market enterprise” in this country, which allows for healthy competition for consumer dollars. As consumers, we can make choices in where we shop and buy various commodities from whomever we so desire. That is what the country was built on, after all—free choice.
There is also a small matter called contract law. In this case, the aforementioned business “Redners” signed a lease to pay the Cordish Company a monetary fee every month for a specified length of time to operate their business on Mr. Cordish’s property.
Redners, to protect their business interest added the clause in question so that they would not suffer financial damage should the Cordish Company decide to rent other space to a similar company offering similar items for sale.
Redners did not nor does not stop anyone from buying similar goods anywhere outside of the shopping centers where they operate under lease. Since the Joppatowne shopping center is relatively small and many a grocery stores have failed there, why would they not include this clause in their contract?
Redners recognizes the financial damage that would occur should other businesses similar to theirs be allowed to operate in such close proximity. What Redners is saying is that you can buy Amish goods (or similar goods Redners offers), just not in the Joppatowne shopping center, and by signing the contract the Cordish company agreed with Redners as well.
Lisa, You are absolutely correct and as a consumer you are free to buy or not buy from anyone you want but Cordish is NOT free to lease Joppatowne space to someone who competes with Redner’s. Cordish agreed to give up that right when Redner’s signed the lease and started paying Cordish. I love the Amish market and wish it was even bigger but in this instance Redner’s is correct. I wonder why a company as smart as Cordish would even entertain the thought.
The cordish company should pay to find those poor Amish a new market close by the present location. I’m sure there has to be a space close and they should pay for their entire moving and set up expenses. In this whole mess they created and they are sitting back doing nothing but cashing checks.
That’s outrageous.
Isn’t there a large bingo parlor and flea market building on the other side of Route 40 down the road a quarter mile or so? Maybe they could fit the Amish into there.
That location would also be in violation of Redner’s lease agreement.
That is, only if Cordish bought it. Redner’s can’t stop Amish stalls in buildings not owned by Cordish.
Give me a damn break!! There are more than enough fat people in Harford county to keep both food selling places in business and profitable.
Go home Redner’s, you’re drunk!
spoken like a true idiot
Why am I an idiot? There is an obesity epidemic in Harf Co (as well as the rest of the country) not to mention high rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Just pointing out the obvious. Sorry if I stuck a nerve….
To say that Councilman Guthrie shouldn’t be involved is ridiculous. If it weren’t for Councilman Guthrie and the homeowners associations, working together to bring a grocery store to the community, Redner’s wouldn’t even be here. It took a lot of time and hard work to get them here. None of the other grocery chains would touch us ‘with a ten-foot pole’. Redner’s is a valuable and upstanding member of our community. Just ask any of the community organizations that they assist — The Women’s Club, the Lions Club, all of our local churches, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, etc., etc. Remember, as well, that Redner’s is employee owned and many folks from our community work there and have part ownership. The complainers are biting off their noses to spite their faces. A contract is a contract and Cordish should be held accountable and the blamers need not place blame anywhere else.
Many of us who would like to see all of the Amish venues remain in business (myself, for one) are not blaming anyone. Understanding that Redner’s seems to be on firm legal ground regarding the closure of at least spome of the Amish venues, we would like to see Redner’s voluntarily give some ground on the issue, in the interest of customers of both
Redner’s and the Amish venues. I, for one, patronize both very regularly, and would miss the loss of any of the concerned parties. I don’t know how much, if any, loss of business to Redner’s is due to the Amish vendors. If it really is substantial, then I would expect Redner’s to justifiably hold a firm line on the issue.
Cordish can solve this by negotiating with and paying Redners.
Contracts are commercial agreements fairly bargained and one party cannot unilaterally change the business terms.
While I don’t always agree with Mr. Guthrie, I wholeheartedly do on this issue. Yes, Cordish was initially in the wrong but it’s Redner’s and its employees that will be hurt now. I make a specific trip every other week to the Joppatowne market to purchase meats, cheeses and fresh foods from the Amish. And then I put my purchases in the cooler and finish up at Redner’s. The Amish are not neccessarily competition, they are a draw to others outside the neighborhood, which is good for all businesses in Joppatowne. Lapps Meats and the other small stalls cater to a different buyer at a quality (and higher price point) that Redner’s Corp has not yet met. You want a piece of the profit, Redner’s? Make a deal with Lapps to sell their meats on the other four days they’re not open!