Jackie's Diner Owner Has Last Word After Closing Doors

Several readers have noticed a sign with a pointed message left inside the window at Jackie's Diner, which closed for business on Christmas Eve. One such reader, Larry Washam, thought it was Patchworthy, and sent in a photo, which we've uploaded here.

The sign reads: "Due to the corruption between the city of Nashua and Main Street Methodist Church five businesses will be displaced by eminent domain without any compensation so that the city can have another parking garage." 

Although unsigned, it was likely left by owner Carol Montminy, who has been vocal about her disappointment in the church's decision to raze the row of businesses.

Nashua Patch reached out to Mayor Donnalee Lozeau for comment on the sign, who referred questions to Rev. Richard Cullen, of Main Street Methodist Church, regarding the business side of the deal.
 
"The city played no role in the decision by the landlord, but stands ready to continue to help the businesses that would like assistance relocating," Lozeau said.

When contacted, Cullen said he was "confounded" by the sign left behind by Montminy. 

"I just saw Carol's sign yesterday and am confounded as to where she might have received this information.  There is no truth to it and I trust that this is evident to anyone who bothers to pursue it," Cullen said. 

 
"As you know, we made the decision to demolish the store fronts in order to pursue our expansion project.  Although I am aware from conversations with the mayor's office that the city hopes some day to build a parking garage in the municipal parking lot behind the church, our decision was made completely separate from this future plan.  We are mystified by Carol's decision to close her restaurant now since she could remain open for another year if she chose to.  We have allowed her to void her lease at her request at a cost of nearly $12,000 to the church since we could have insisted that she honor her lease.  We have worked with each of the businesses to alter their leases as they have requested," Cullen wrote, via email.

We also spoke with Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Christopher Williams, who had previously commented that Montminy had opportunities to continue operating in downtown Nashua if she chose to do so, and pointed out that her lease from the Main Street United Methodist Church was good through December of 2014. 

Williams said to the best of his knowledge, the other four businesses are working with the city to relocate.

He also wanted to correct the misstatement made on the sign about eminent domain, which does not play a role in this particular situation.

"Both the City and the Chamber offered the owner assistance, but the owner has made the choice to close now rather than continue operating and working with others to find alternative space," Williams wrote under a post about the diner closing its doors on Dec. 24.

Although there are no plans in the works to build a parking garage in that space, the city has pointed out that razing the building, as the church plans to do, will open up access to Main Street from an existing municipal parking lot behind the church. 

In November, Montminy said that after having invested in installation of a custom stovetop and other required upgrades, it was not cost-effective to relocate.

Nashua Patch first reported the news that the Main Street Methodist Church congregation had voted to terminate its lease agreement with five Main Street shops, and move forward with a renovation plan that included upgrades to the entrance of the church, currently obscured by the stretch of shops occupied by Jackie's Diner, Chuck's Barber Shop, Tattoo America, Showtime Computers, and Celebrations Catering.

Cullen said in November, after much deliberation and prayer over a six-month period, the church decided to move boldly into the future to maintain its outreach and increase accessibility and visibility.

"We made a decision in April to continue as a downtown church, as opposed to moving away from the downtown – as the church had been considering for several years. At that same time, we made the decision to renovate as opposed to moving," said Cullen. 

According to a brochure outlining the project, the church needs upgrades – many areas within the church are not easily accessible; carrying bags of donated food up and down the stairs presents an ongoing challenge in the distribution of 50-plus bags of food per week; poor ventilation in the basement in the church has contributed to poor air quality.

Taking away businesses from Nashua's Main Street, which already had some obvious vacancies, is something the city continues to grapple with, said Thomas Galligani, the city's Economic Development Director.

He said that of the 15 or so existing empty storefronts the city was tracking as of the end of November, there were deals in the works to fill 12 of those spaces.  

Since then, Enterprise Bank & Trust has opened, which accounts for two vacancies. There are other spaces now under agreement, Galligani said.