The Business Owners
T.C., a young Asian-American woman whose family has owned the Golden Donut Restaurant on 638 Mass. Ave. for six years said she cares little for political debate.
What she is concerned about is making a living.
"This is our livelihood, so it's difficult for us and all of the storeowners," T.C. said. "We have nowhere else to go."
T.C., who declined to give her full name, said she doesn't know where her customers will eat and hang out once the restaurant shuts down.
The Golden Donut is a place where you can linger over a fatty breakfast of sausage, eggs and toast or have a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich cooked to order.
"We have regulars," T.C. said. "I don't know what they're going to do when we leave."
On a recent Monday afternoon, senior citizens and middle-aged Central Square employees thronged the Golden Donut to get a cup of iced coffee "with five [spoonfuls of] sugar and no cream" or "two glazed donuts."
T.C. said her family hasn't been asked to relocate to the new building because the Trust "doesn't want food establishments in the new complex."
However, Hoicka said he had heard the Ethiopian Restaurant would be allowed to join the new establishment if it agreed to convert into a "small sandwich shop."
Hoicka styled the fight between Central Square business owners and Holmes Realty Trust as a battle between "David and Goliath."
He has already collected 1,500 signatures and hopes to raise money at a Nov. 5 fundraiser at the Middle East Restaurant in Central Square.
However, there are some who believe that such efforts may come too little, too late.
"What can we do?" T.C. asked plaintively. "We can't fight $20 million dollars."