Photo by Howard Owens.
While news of a potentially larger, relocated Burger King created some online responses from supporters of the businesses the fast-food restaurant would replace, one of those sites has been quietly working on its own new establishment.
Beverly’s Floral & Gifts will be moving into the former Roxy’s Music store at 228 West Main St., Batavia, hopefully, before the end of summer, owner Russ Fitzgibbon says.
“I bought it a year ago and have been rehabbing the place,” Fitzgibbon told The Batavian on Tuesday. “I have to put in about another month of work, and will be go-ready.”
He hasn’t been pleased with some of the online comments regarding Burger King’s plans to purchase and demolish the current Beverly’s building and adjacent one housing Batavia Restaurant Supply, plus two more along South Lyon Street. It has been well known for some time now, he said, that BRS owner Mike Charvella has been trying to sell the site at 301-305 West Main St.
“But nobody wanted to pay what he wanted to get for it,” Fitzgibbon said. “It’s not a surprise to anyone here. To say that a business is getting forced out … I like him, he’s always been straightforward with me. He’s been very clear.
“There’s zero surprise in any of this. Once he turned 70 or 75, he offered to sell to me or (to store managers). He can do whatever he wants to do with his business.”
Fitzgibbon has already completed some "massive construction" on his new place, he said. He couldn’t help but point out the bit of irony in his move: he will be next door to the current Burger King that is requesting a special use permit by relocating to his current stomping ground at the corner of West Main and South Lyon streets.
UPDATED 6/26/23: Stacey Schrader, who owns Batavia Restaurant Supply with partner Nate Charvella, wants to make it clear that, although the building at 301-305 West Main St. has been sold, the business will remain.
"We're staying in business," she said Wednesday. "We are in the process of finding a new location."
The business partners have owned BRS since 2012.
