A recent flurry of activity and rumor surrounding Wal-Mart's pending arrival to Wawarsing's Napanoch Valley Mall on Route 209 has some business-owners who are struggling to survive in the location concerned about the future, as they report having not been contacted or appraised of the situation in quite some time.

Bella Volchik and Tony Zlatkin, owners and operators of Valley Mall's Katherine's Korner and Napanoch Valley Wines and Liquors, have long been two of the most vocal supporters of Wal-Mart's arrival, but have recently expressed concerns about their businesses' fates since several months had passed since they'd received any contact or information from those handling the mall's sale.

"No one has reached out to us," said Volchik on June 30, referring to the lack of communication from both Joe Tso, owner of the property, or from Wal-Mart itself. Earlier this year, the Volchik and Zlatnik signed a relocation letter of intent, a document saying they would agree to any relocation plan Tso would provide should the mall be purchased and subsequently demolished for Wal-Mart's arrival.

"If we don't sign, Wal-Mart will not happen," said Volchik, describing the feelings of herself and her husband when presented with the document. "We were uncomfortable because we didn't know the details of the new building. They applied pressure to us," she continued.

Since the departure of Ames and Grand Union, the Valley Mall has been a retail ghost-town, with little to no foot traffic in the mall's remaining stores despite the presence of the Napanoch Post Office.

Wal-Mart's arrival is supposed to change all that, which explains Volchik and Zlatkin's eagerness to keep the deal's wheels moving over the course of the roughly two years the process has taken so far. The two were told that all of the currently leased tenants — their two stores, the Chinese food restaurant, and the Napanoch Post Office — had to sign the letters for the sale's progress to continue. As a result, Volchik and Zlatkin worked to convince the other two leased tenants to sign the documents, hoping that the process to bring the retailer to the area would move along quickly.

But since then, communication had all but stopped, and deals they thought they'd struck over the course of these two years had yet to materialize.

With recent sightings of surveyors hired by Wal-Mart assessing the property, and the various articles from the Times-Herald Record, the Ulster County Press, and this publication reporting news of an impending sale, the two business owners have expressed worries that they may get left out in the cold.

"Why not work with tenants?" asked Volchik. The liquor store they operate needs approval from the New York State Liquor Authority, a process which often takes months to complete, as well as requires detailed and accurate floor layouts and plans — layouts and plans which they say they know nothing about. Should action be taken to relocate them, they worry there may not be enough time to get proper clearance from the Liquor Authority.

"This is very un-businesslike," said Volchik.

With their lease running out in October 2009, stress is high for the two tenants who want to see their businesses not only continue, but to thrive once again. Even still, through all the worry and stress, the two remain hopeful that Tso will make good on his word and provide them with a new location nearby to the big box store.

Finally, just as this edition was going to press, Volchik confirmed that she received a call from Tso's attorney and Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan on Tuesday at around 2 p.m., asking to meet on Thursday of this week, though she said she was not sure of the nature of the meeting. She also said that she thought the meeting may have finally been prompted by her constant requests for contact, as well as her talks with Town Supervisor Ed Jennings for help in this matter. Should the meeting with Kaplan and Tso go through on Thursday as planned, and should the seemingly dormant plans for relocation actually be discussed and move ahead, Volchik hopes that what she and her husband have worked to help along may finally come to fruition.

"I believe it will be good for the area, and good for me," said Volchik of the effect Wal-Mart could have on Wawarsing. She says part of the benefit Wal-Mart could bring is the stressful but fruitful rivalry a competitor would bring, like when Katherine's Korner had to compete with the now-gone Ames.

"I miss that competitive edge," she said.

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