Space Occupied by Zeno Shoe Shine to Be Converted For Other Uses
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL — Zeno Shoe Shine, which operates in the Lindbergh Terminal鈥檚 airport mall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International, was notified in October that it would need to vacate its space no later than January 31, 2010.
The business鈥檚 lease with the Metropolitan Airports Commission expired in 2004. Royal Zeno, the owner of the shop at that time, had the opportunity to apply for a three-year lease extension provided he made some much-needed improvements to the space. He chose not to make the improvements or to apply for the lease extension. The business has operated without a lease on a 30-day holdover basis since 2004.
Royal Zeno, who died in 2008, had a unique opportunity to transfer the business to his daughter Rosemary during the 1999-2004 lease period. He did not do so. Consequently, Rosemary Zeno, the current proprietor, has never had a lease with the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
The business has reported declining revenues every year since 2003, when it grossed a reported $40,385. Based on Zeno Shoe Shine鈥檚 own revenue Replica Christian Dior reports, after paying the $8,400 minimum rent, the space would have netted a total of less than $88 per day in 2003, an amount that presumably would have been split among multiple shiners and the proprietor.
By 2008, the shop generated even less. According to the shop鈥檚 revenue reports, it grossed Oris Replica Watch only $14,890 last year, suggesting the shop provided less than 7 shines per day, on average, at an airport through which an average of 93,000 travelers per day passed. Based on Zeno Shoe Shine鈥檚 revenue reports, after paying the minimum rent, the business netted less than $6,500 for the year 鈥?or less than $18 per day, on average. If you divide that evenly between the shop鈥檚 five shiners and Rosemary Zeno, it equates to $3 per day per person.
鈥淚f the shop has accurately reported its revenues, it clearly is providing minimal service to travelers and a living wage to no one,鈥? said Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC).
鈥淚f it has not accurately reported its revenues, that would be very troubling as well because the rent it owes is based, in part, on the revenues it generates,鈥?Hogan said. 鈥淭he shop has been at the airport more than 30 years, so by now one would hope it has in place a process for accurately reporting its revenues.
鈥淎ny suggestion that closing the shop would be taking away the shiners鈥? living is clearly not supported by Zeno Shoe Shine鈥檚 own revenue reports. The numbers simply don鈥檛 add up,鈥?said Hogan.
The shop generates only about one-sixth the amount of revenue the MAC would normally expect for a venue in such a prime location. Revenues from concession vendors and parking help support airport operations and improvements. The MAC receives no general appropriation for operation of its seven airports but must generate the revenues it needs to operate the facilities.
In 2010, the MAC plans to solicit competitive bids for all MSP鈥檚 shoe shine operations except those on Lindbergh Terminal Concourse G, which is controlled by Northwest Airlines.
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