Store owners to take call tomorrow

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 6

The Elante management and outlet owners in the mall continue to remain at loggerheads over the issue of rent. The outlet owners are likely to hold a meeting on Monday to decide on their further course of action.

Sources said both sides had earlier held a series of meetings to find a solution.

The outlet owners are demanding that the mall management should either waive the rent or revise it, as the Covid-19 pandemic has affected their businesses. “The malls are allowed to operate till 8 pm by ensuring social distancing. It won’t solve our purpose of earning profit. Due to the hot weather, not many people will come out to have food or shop in the afternoon,” said a food outlet owner.

The owners of a famous clothing chain said the negotiations were still on with the mall owners. “We have offered that the outlets can pay 50 per cent of the rent from April to June and 75 per cent from July onwards. We are still negotiating with them,” they added.

Replying to the queries, a spokesperson of the mall said the mall would reopen on June 8 as per a notification issued by the Chandigarh Administration.

The spokesperson preferred not to comment on the rent issue.

“Elante will reopen its doors for public on June 8.We are confident that all our partners will resume operations smoothly,” said the spokesperson.