Pepper said he has “faith” that HSA and The Wrap will be able to negotiate a new lease in 2003, but that the company would be irresponsible not to look for alternate locations in case a new lease is not offered.

“If we can stay, we’ll stay. Otherwise we’ll try to move as close as possible to the old location in order to keep customers happy,” Liebman said.

And Pepper said The Wrap has been seeking new locations nearby, but could not reveal the exact locations.

Liebman said that there were huge costs involved in relocating, noting that new permits and a new lease would be needed.

He also said there would be the cost of temporarily losing customers who did not know where The Wrap had moved, especially the many customers who come only during the Head of the Charles weekend.

“If we have to leave, we might not be able to find a new space,” Pepper said. “Harvard Square is tough.”

Pepper said some of the rents set in recent leases on Harvard Square locations are higher than what The Wrap would sign. He added that in high profile areas such as Harvard Square many companies seek to have a presence as a marketing tool for their brand names. These companies often pay over market price for space, making it harder on smaller businesses.

Pepper also said that if The Wrap needs to move, there would likely be a gap period between the closing of the current store, and the opening of a new one. He said The Wrap would try to minimize the length of this gap.

Relations With Students

Both Pepper and Liebman said that a strong relationship with Harvard students has always been a key to their success on Mt. Auburn Street. Last Friday, The Wrap donated to IMPACT 100 wraps to feed students attending the Miss Harvard pageant.

Pepper added, “we have a lot of student support, including the students in the HSA. They are good customers.”

Students expressed a range of emotions from shocked to indifferent at the news that The Wrap might lose its Harvard Square presence.

“I would be completely ruined [if the Wrap left],” said Daria J. Hinz ’04.

Vonda M. de la Manta ’05 also said she liked The Wrap and would be upset by its departure, citing its good food at a good price as reasons for her patronage there.

But not everyone was so moved.