WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Leaders with the city of Winter Garden are taking steps to help small businesses after a recent sale of several downtown properties resulted in businesses having to close down after their leases were not renewed.

What You Need To Know

A recent sale of downtown Winter Garden properties led to several small businesses closing or relocating when leases were not renewed

City leaders are proposing a $50,000-per-year, three-year contract with consulting firm Retail Strategies Inc. to support small businesses

The consultant would provide marketplace analysis, policy and incentive recommendations, and small business support services in year one

In years two and three, the firm would help with recruitment, retention, property-owner roundtables, progress reports and online training for small businesses

Several small, locally owned businesses have been disrupted, including Polka Dotz, a boutique on Plant Street.

“We can’t change what happened. They can’t control who buys what. But we, as residents, this is my thing. We can control where we spend our money. So it’s up to us now. Let’s, you know, if you want to support your small businesses, come and support your small businesses,” Polka Dotz owner Heidi Hardman said.

In a meeting scheduled for Thursday night, officials were expected to present an idea to bring a consultant that could help business owners with recruitment, retention and taking their businesses online, among other resources.

According to the city’s proposal, they plan to hire a consulting firm, Retail Strategies Inc. to help with marketplace studies and recommendations. It will cost the city $50,000 annually for a three-year term.

“I have mixed thoughts on it. I mean, yes, is it reactive versus proactive. But then again, who would have seen this coming as like you don’t know there’s a problem until it’s a problem. Sometimes you just can’t plan for every single thing to happen. I am happy that they’re doing something,” Hardman said.

According to the city, the consulting firm has a 15-year track record of helping communities across 25 states, including small towns like Winter Garden.

In year one, the consultant will produce actionable policy and incentive recommendations based on marketplace analysis and stakeholder workshops, including small business support services.

And in years two and three they will provide support with recruitment, retention, biannual property-owner roundtables, quarterly progress reporting and access to an online small business training platform.

Spectrum News 13 reached out to the City of Winter Garden about this proposal. 

“The City of Winter Garden has a longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses, which are central to preserving our community’s small-town charm. In continued alignment with this focus, the City is bringing a proposal to the CRA Board to partner with the consulting firm Retail Strategies, Inc., a company with a proven track record of helping small businesses thrive in similar communities through marketplace studies and target policy recommendations,” Director of Economic Development Marc O. Hutchinson said.

Hardman said she is open to the idea of working with the consulting firm.

“If this consulting firm can help, from what I understand, they’re going to help some of the small business merchants too, to get together and have some resources. That always helps. And, you know, if there’s tools that they’re giving us great. It’s up to us to use them,” Hardman said.

She’s hopeful things will work out to have the best outcome for the community.

“It’s time to pivot. Let’s move forward,” Hardman said.

And she has moved forward, Hardman says they have already found a new location for the store. They will lease a space on Main Street in Winter Garden, just steps away from the current location. 

“I like the ceilings and the brick wall. This is what I love. That’s just a piece of the history of Winter Garden,” Hardman said as she showed the new location.

They plan to open in July.

Since Spectrum News 13 first reported on the story on February, the landscape on Plant Street has undergone several changes.

Three Birds Café has since closed its doors and moved to a new location. Polka Dotz will be closing its store in June, and according to staff at the Writer’s Block Bookstore, the store will be closing down on Sunday.

“I think it’s terrible. I think it’s tragic because that’s what makes this town. It gives it so much. It’s what attracts so many people to come here. It’s so unique,” The Villages resident Carol Daunis said, who frequents downtown Winter Garden.