Save the Corner Cafe

The Corner Cafe is the true definition of a small family business. Owned and operated by the Graff and Magro families, it has been a part of Huntingdon Valley and it's surrounding communities for nearly 15 years. We serve lunch and dinner daily to some of the most loyal customers around, and are only as successful as we are because they keep on coming. And as much as we needed them over these past 15 years, we need them now more than ever!

Over the last year or so, the owners of the Huntingdon Valley Shopping Center have begun renovations to update existing stores, as well as add more retail stores and doctors offices. These same owners, Kravco LLC, own the Atrium of the King of Prussia Mall, The Hamilton Mall and other shopping centers. What they are doing to the Corner Cafe, and what they have done to numerous other [former] businesses of the shopping center is a classic case of Corporate America bullying small family businesses

Back in 2013, during a meeting that took place at the Corner Cafe between owner John Graff, Kravco VP, Clint Cochran, and other business owners of the shopping center, the future plans were discussed. In the company of the people who attended this meeting, and the numerous employees who were on duty that day, Mr. Cochran assured Mr. Graff that The Corner Cafe was safe, was an asset to the shopping center, and was part of the future plans. We were also told not to worry because our current lease included a five year extension to the lease and that a new lease need not be discussed for a few more years. This sentiment was repeated over several occasions following this meeting.

In May of this year, Mr. Graff reached out to Kravco property managers, VP Clint Cochran and VP Steven Powell to discuss the terms of the upcoming five year extension. He also planned on getting the ball rolling on a new long-term lease to keep The Corner Cafe around for another generation. After all, he and Mr. Magro had just invested well over $50,000 in improvements to the restaurant. What happens next? ... You guessed it I'm sure...Mr Powell informed the owners of The Corner Cafe that they would not be exercising the five-year extension, and that the lease would be terminated at the end of it's term (January 2015). The reason being is that they wanted to go more corporate. He also said that "it was just business." They do not care about our families and the families of our employees. And to make things worse, we have since learned that we were not the only business in the shopping center that was misled and/or lied to.

So essentially we are being forced to close. Corporate America strung us along for many months making promises they never intended to keep. Now we are in the unfortunate position of trying to fight Kravco LLC, and creating a plan B. But we have not been afforded much time to do anything soon. This will be a long drawn out process, and we are in it for the long haul. We will exhaust all options to try and keep The Corner Cafe right where it is!

But we need your help! If you visit The Corner Cafe, ask to sign our petition. Also ask for a contact card that includes the phone numbers and contact information for the property managers of Kravco LLC. It is your voice that matters most. Please show your support for us. LIke this page and share this page to get the word out. Thank you in advance for all of your support, and thank you for your patronage over the years!