By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Monday was a sad day in Raton as the local Pizza Hut store served its last pizza pie to local residents.
Tom Blake with WKRP Management LLC, the company that owns the Pizza Hut franchise, told KRTN that closing the store “was a very hard decision for them to make.” They like Raton, they want to be here but unfortunately economics have played a big role in the closure.
Blake noted that they have a very old building and it is in need of repairs and upgrades that are very expensive for a building that sits on rented property. He also noted that revenues would have to increase significantly to pay for the work and WKRP management felt that was not likely to happen in the current location.
WKRP has looked elsewhere in Raton for property or a building but they have not found one to meet their needs, but would love to be on Clayton Road near the interstate where they feel they could see the additional revenues from interstate traffic to make those kind of repairs had the building been in a location there.
Blake noted that there are several older buildings in the area but the cost of refurbishing; remodeling would be more expensive than building new. Again the lack of property to build on has been an issue for WKRP. Blake went on to say they would love to be back in Raton if the right situation presents itself.
Raton has seen its unfair amount of business closures over the last few years. Rubin’s where the owners were ready to retire and there wasn’t anyone willing to purchase the store or take it over. Joeff’s TuTu Parlor where the owner wanted to spend more time with family. The cafe that was the bakery has changed hands and was opened and closed and reopened and closed due to a lack of business.
Other businesses on Second street may also face the hard decision of closing should things not change. Alan Best has a thriving business as a reseller for Plateau Wireless. AT&T bought out Plateau recently and he is now waiting to find out if he will be an AT&T retailer. That along with the bankruptcy of Radio Shack has not been kind to Two-Way Electronics. Best wasn’t too worried about the Radio Shack problem noting he has other sources for electronics.
In light of all this the question has been asked why hasn’t the city stepped in and done something. City Manager Scott Berry, in a recent interview, noted that it isn’t the city’s responsibility to meddle in a private business. However he noted that the city could do things to help a business be more successful.
Bright spots in downtown are the opening of a new barber shop, a new bakery, the Stakeout in the old Palace building, Bruno’s Pizza and Wings as well as Hamburger Haven reopening. The Palace is closed at this time for repairs, once again the issues of an older building being brought up to code. How successful will these new establishments be, only time can tell if they can attract the needed clientele to be successful and help revitalize Raton’s downtown area.
