ANOTHER two businesses have pulled out of a Worcester shopping centre because the rents demanded by its mysterious owner are too high.
Sheraton Gifts shut up shop in Reindeer Court a couple of weeks ago, and computer store Solutions is leaving at the beginning of next month.
This takes the toll of empty shops to seven out of 26.
Solutions owner Richard Kania revealed he was the latest victim of rent hikes, although he was only moving out and not closing down as others have done.
He said: "I am actually moving to bigger and better premises in Charles Street for a lower rent, but I would not have chosen to go if I hadn't been forced.
"The rent has gone up a lot in recent years to what the owner feels are commercial prices, but these do not reflect the current retail downturn. People know we are here, and it won't do the company any good to move."
What is annoying retailers even more is that they cannot find any information about the company to which they are paying their rent.
Caldana International Corp bought the centre for £5.6m in May 2004 and has been unpopular ever since.
But no details of it can be found on the internet, and as it is believed to be Canadian or American-based, it is not registered in this country.
The owner of another shop, still there despite the rent increases, said other retailers who had stayed afloat were now worried about the future as rumours spread that Reindeer Court was for sale.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: "The rent has driven a lot of small businesses to the edge and there will be a lot more bankruptcies in the coming months.
"If Reindeer Court was sold we don't know what new owners would charge, or if we could continue trading here. It is a very uncertain time."
The Worcester News tracked down an agency for Caldana, Fletcher King, which denied the site was on the market.
A spokesman refused to comment on rent rises but said: "We are liaising very closely with tenants to promote the centre in the run-up to Christmas. Reindeer Court is not for sale."
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