Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Venturi's strip mall continues to limp along
Just recently unit #2 has been rented to InstaLoan (ie: Title Pawn) but 5 units remain empty and you have to wonder just how long it will be before the mall goes under.
Monday, May 13, 2013
It is not another Pawn Shop but it is a rip off loan company.
Five of the 6 empty Venturi units are still available to rent. Suite #1 has been rented out to 'InstaLoan' (aka: Title Max and TMX). This still leaves units #2 and #14/15 and 16/17 (the recently closed Urgent Care).
There are already 3 similar InstaLoan locations on Cobb Pky, 2 in Acworth and 1 in Marietta. Their internet site is at: http://instaloan.com
In Georgia and Florida InstaLoan have over 75 stores. They offer several types of 'loans' including a 'cash advance' which is just the same as the rip off 'payday loan'.
"Suite 2" is of course the 2nd half of the old Cruchelow Pawn Shop and it remains empty.
There are already 3 similar InstaLoan locations on Cobb Pky, 2 in Acworth and 1 in Marietta. Their internet site is at: http://instaloan.com
In Georgia and Florida InstaLoan have over 75 stores. They offer several types of 'loans' including a 'cash advance' which is just the same as the rip off 'payday loan'.
Misc Comments: In a few hours online looking into this firm I found only a few items of interest, none were positive. Several individual Instaloan locations were rated as 'F' by the BBB.
Very limited info is available on this relatively new firm, I did find that they operate under many different names and have a good many trademark registrations (23) with different names than Instaloan*. The main firm appears to be Title Max operated by President Tracy Young and lawyer Nathan Belzer.
My own speculation on all these names is that when one gets a bad reputation they just start another chain of bottom feeding payday loan stores, Instaloan (aka: Title Max) is just the latest to spring up.
These names are associated with Instaloan:
Savannah, GA 31401
BELZER PC
2905 BULL ST
SAVANNAH, GA 31405-2021
From their own internet site comes the below info:
About TMX Finance
TMX Finance is one of the largest, fastest growing and most profitable consumer specialty finance companies in the United States. Our family of brands includes TitleMax, TitleBucks, TMX Credit and InstaLoan. Headquartered in beautiful Savannah, Georgia, TMX Finance has over 1,000 stores in twelve states and has aggressive growth plans to double in size over the next five years. The rapid growth of the company has created a wealth of career opportunities at our corporate offices. If you are looking for a dynamic career with significant earning potential and tremendous advancement opportunities, you've come to the right place.
InstaLoan
General Manager
Earn- $40K to $50K!
Kennesaw, Georgia
Start Making Real Money!
TMX Finance is one of the largest and fastest growing consumer specialty finance companies in the United States. With a family of brands that includes: TitleMax, TitleBucks, InstaLoan, EquityAuto Loan, TMX Credit, and AutoCash, TMX Finance is comprised of a diversified product offering. TMX Finance has over 1,000 stores spanning 12 states and has aggressive growth plans to double in size in the next three years.
The rapid growth of the company has created a wealth of career opportunities in both our stores and at our corporate offices. If you are looking for a dynamic career with significant earning potential and tremendous advancement opportunities, you've come to the right place.
Below is the Venturi unit #1 as of 5/9/13
Work continues to divide the two old Cruchelow units with #1 to be used for the InstaLoan firm. The #2 unit remains unrented as do units 14-17.
Unfortunately in every society there are bottom feeding scum bags that prey on the poor and make their lives even more misrable.
One growth industry in the US is that of providers of short term loans. At one time they were found mostly just outside the gates of military bases next to the bars and strip clubs, however there is so much profit that they have expanded to the extent that you find several in the course of a mile or two drive.
Here in Kennesaw we are getting a new one in place of half of the old Cruchelows Pawn Shops space. This is another Title Max now using a new company name called InstaLoan. Probably due to the corporate name of Title Max having such a bad smell from years of screwing people with such industry loans charging 200-500% to their customers.
Payday Loans Cost Economy $1 Billion And Thousands Of Jobs, Study Finds: CNBC
Payday loans cost the U.S. economy nearly $1 billion and thousands of jobs in 2011, according to a report from the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.
The study says that the burden of repaying the loans resulted in $774 million in lost consumer spending and 14,000 job losses. Bankruptcies related to payday loans numbered 56,230, taking an additional $169 million out of the economy.
"Payday loans are an ongoing problem and an economic drain," said Tim Lohrentz, the center's program manager and author of the report. "The amount is not huge in the big picture of the total economy, but it's big enough."
Designed to meet the need for emergency cash, the short-term loans are essentially advances on wages and meant to be repaid on the next payday—usually within two weeks. Borrowers secure the loans by providing a postdated check or electronic access to their bank account.
But the loans, which have been around for nearly 20 years, carry onerous interest rates, ranging from 200 percent to 500 percent.
See the full article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/05/payday-loans-cost-economy_n_3211597.html
Specialties
Consumer Loans up to $5,000, National Retail Business, Performance Paid Environment, Dynamic and Proftable Company
Headquarters - Bull Street, Savannah, Ga 31401
Website - http://www.titlemax.biz
Industry - Financial Services
Type - Privately Held
Company Size - 1001-5000 employees
Founded - 1998
General Manager - InstaLoan
Company: TMX Finance.
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Job Type: Full Time
Posted: 4/18/13
General Manager
Earn- $40K to $50K!
Kennesaw, Georgia
Start Making Real Money!
TMX Finance is one of the largest and fastest growing consumer specialty finance companies in the United States. With a family of brands that includes: TitleMax, TitleBucks, InstaLoan, EquityAuto Loan, TMX Credit, and AutoCash, TMX Finance is comprised of a diversified product offering. TMX Finance has over 1,000 stores spanning 12 states and has aggressive growth plans to double in size in the next three years.
The rapid growth of the company has created a wealth of career opportunities in both our stores and at our corporate offices. If you are looking for a dynamic career with significant earning potential and tremendous advancement opportunities, you've come to the right place.
*************************************************
Misc Info FYI:
A lot of negative info from Title Max employees can be found at: http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Titlemax/reviews
Unfortunately in every society there are bottom feeding scum bags that prey on the poor and make their lives even more misrable.
One growth industry in the US is that of providers of short term loans. At one time they were found mostly just outside the gates of military bases next to the bars and strip clubs, however there is so much profit that they have expanded to the extent that you find several in the course of a mile or two drive.
Here in Kennesaw we are getting a new one in place of half of the old Cruchelows Pawn Shops space. This is another Title Max now using a new company name called InstaLoan. Probably due to the corporate name of Title Max having such a bad smell from years of screwing people with such industry loans charging 200-500% to their customers.
Payday loans cost the U.S. economy nearly $1 billion and thousands of jobs in 2011, according to a report from the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Updated
If you wandered in here accidently you might wonder what this site is all about and why there are so many photos at the top of the blog showing a building with, usually, only the same 2 vehicles in the lot.
This site was set up to document problems with both the owners of a (then) Kennesaw Pawn shop and the owner of the strip mall where it was opened. The site has many press reports about the shop, how it was illegal from the start, how it eventually moved, how the strip owner sued the City etc.
So scroll through it and perhaps you will find something of interest. The site will remain up but unless there are further developments no new material will be added.
The mystery of how a business that does no business stays in business. remains unanswered. If you figure it out drop me a line as I would like to know the answer.
I updated the site today, last time I looked at the Marietta pawn shop was 59 days ago. Same lack of business. The photos of this shop could all have been taken on the same day as they all show the owners 2 vehicles, just parked slightly differently in front of their shop. Never any customers!
Bill Harris at: Computer660@hotmail.com
This site was set up to document problems with both the owners of a (then) Kennesaw Pawn shop and the owner of the strip mall where it was opened. The site has many press reports about the shop, how it was illegal from the start, how it eventually moved, how the strip owner sued the City etc.
So scroll through it and perhaps you will find something of interest. The site will remain up but unless there are further developments no new material will be added.
The mystery of how a business that does no business stays in business. remains unanswered. If you figure it out drop me a line as I would like to know the answer.
I updated the site today, last time I looked at the Marietta pawn shop was 59 days ago. Same lack of business. The photos of this shop could all have been taken on the same day as they all show the owners 2 vehicles, just parked slightly differently in front of their shop. Never any customers!
Bill Harris at: Computer660@hotmail.com
4 of 17 Venturi Units still Empty
I would like to say that I don't usually kick someone when they are 'down' but in this case I will make an exception.
As of 3/30/13, Tino Venturi's strip mall still has 4 of the 17 units empty. Just 2 blocks south of here 2 strip malls have virtually no tenants so it is a bad time for finding small businesses to rent store fronts.For all the b.s. we had to put up with from Venturi and his lawyer I am pleased that he is taking a substantial hit in the wallet.
3/29/13
Venturi takes major hit despite $14K award.
On or about June 13, 2012 the Kennesaw Pawn Shop location closed down. Units 1 & 2 were occupied by the shop, this is a double wide unit with 3,189 sq ft which rented for $14.50 pr sq ft yearly for $46,240 or $3,853 on a monthly basis.
At this writing the units have been empty for 9 1/2 months with no sign of any interest by other stores for these 2 units or 2 other empty units in the Mack Dobbs strip mall.
Clearly Mr. Venturi took a heavy hit in his pocket book which is just fine with area home owners, perhaps it will teach him a lesson about double crossing us by putting in a Pawn Shop when he well knew it was prohibited by his own stipulation years ago.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Monkey Business?
Checking in now and then since the shop moved to Marietta from kennesaw has never found them to have ANY business.
With the minor exception of work trucks during the remodel, the only vehicles ever seen at the shop were the car and pick up truck which belong to the owners. Since they actually do no business it makes you wonder what the purpose of the shop is?
With the minor exception of work trucks during the remodel, the only vehicles ever seen at the shop were the car and pick up truck which belong to the owners. Since they actually do no business it makes you wonder what the purpose of the shop is?
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Marietta Daily Journal
City settles suit over shuttered shop for
$14K
by
KENNESAW — The
city of Kennesaw and Mack Dobbs Properties LLC have settled for $14,000 in the
developer’s lawsuit over a now-closed pawnshop.
Celestino Venturi, who owns Mack Dobbs Point strip mall, filed a lawsuit in June against the city arguing that zoning stipulations enacted in 2004 that prohibit several types of businesses in the strip mall deny property owners like himself “an economically viable use” of the property.
Kennesaw city manager Steve Kennedy said that under the settlement made Nov. 13, the city will pay Mack Dobbs Properties $14,000 through its insurance provider, Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency, and give Cobb Superior Court Judge Grant Brantley $1,200 for mediating the case.
Mediation began Nov. 1.
“This should be it,” Kennedy said Monday. “They pretty much agreed to hold us harmless.”
However, Kennedy said the city has held themselves to some accountability in the past by admitting their error in granting Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan a business license in 2011 to open in the strip mall.
Kennedy also said he doesn’t anticipate insurance costs in the city going up because of the settlement and that there will be a prohibition against pawn shops at the location until the stipulations get changed, should that ever take place.
The Kennesaw City Council signed off on approval of the settlement before Nov. 13, but Kennedy could not recall the exact date.
Garvis Sams, who represented Mack Dobbs Properties, said, “My client is satisfied with the settlement and we thought the mediator did an excellent job bringing the two sides together.”
The business, which was located in the strip mall at North Cobb Parkway and Mack Dobbs Road in Kennesaw until it was vacated in June, has moved to the corner of Powder Springs Street and Bellemeade Drive in Marietta.
Neighbors in the subdivision behind the strip mall contacted the city around the first of the year to complain about the zoning violation.
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - City settles suit over shuttered shop for 14K
==============================================
From the Kennesaw Watch:
To conclude the pawn shop zoning fiasco that plagued the city earlier this year, the city of Kennesaw has agreed to the following in a recent mediation with Venturi properties regarding Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan:
1) Mutual release of all further claims between parties,
The settlement includes paying out $14,000 as well as costs of mediation. While the city will not actually be paying this out of the their fund, this money will once again come from the insurer.
For more details, please visit Bill Harris’ site at: http://kennesawpawnproblems.blogspot.com
The Watch would like to thank Mr. Harris for his continued efforts to keep the taxpayers updated on the pawn shop zoning issues and its financial impact on the taxpayers and businesses.
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Celestino Venturi, who owns Mack Dobbs Point strip mall, filed a lawsuit in June against the city arguing that zoning stipulations enacted in 2004 that prohibit several types of businesses in the strip mall deny property owners like himself “an economically viable use” of the property.
Kennesaw city manager Steve Kennedy said that under the settlement made Nov. 13, the city will pay Mack Dobbs Properties $14,000 through its insurance provider, Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency, and give Cobb Superior Court Judge Grant Brantley $1,200 for mediating the case.
Mediation began Nov. 1.
“This should be it,” Kennedy said Monday. “They pretty much agreed to hold us harmless.”
However, Kennedy said the city has held themselves to some accountability in the past by admitting their error in granting Cruchelow Jewelry & Loan a business license in 2011 to open in the strip mall.
Kennedy also said he doesn’t anticipate insurance costs in the city going up because of the settlement and that there will be a prohibition against pawn shops at the location until the stipulations get changed, should that ever take place.
The Kennesaw City Council signed off on approval of the settlement before Nov. 13, but Kennedy could not recall the exact date.
Garvis Sams, who represented Mack Dobbs Properties, said, “My client is satisfied with the settlement and we thought the mediator did an excellent job bringing the two sides together.”
The business, which was located in the strip mall at North Cobb Parkway and Mack Dobbs Road in Kennesaw until it was vacated in June, has moved to the corner of Powder Springs Street and Bellemeade Drive in Marietta.
Neighbors in the subdivision behind the strip mall contacted the city around the first of the year to complain about the zoning violation.
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - City settles suit over shuttered shop for 14K
==============================================
From the Kennesaw Watch:
City to pay in Pawn Shop Settlement Agreement
Admin on December 1, 2012
To conclude the pawn shop zoning fiasco that plagued the city earlier this year, the city of Kennesaw has agreed to the following in a recent mediation with Venturi properties regarding Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan:
1) Mutual release of all further claims between parties,
2) City pays through its insurer $14,000,
3) City pays through its insurer all costs of mediation,
4) Mack Dobbs indemnifies City/Defendants from all claims which may be raised by Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan,
5) Settlement contingent upon Mayor and Council approval
The settlement includes paying out $14,000 as well as costs of mediation. While the city will not actually be paying this out of the their fund, this money will once again come from the insurer.For more details, please visit Bill Harris’ site at: http://kennesawpawnproblems.blogspot.com
The Watch would like to thank Mr. Harris for his continued efforts to keep the taxpayers updated on the pawn shop zoning issues and its financial impact on the taxpayers and businesses.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Settlement Agreement Between Mack Dobbs Properties and City of Kennesaw
The 3 page 'Settlement Agreement' of 11/13/12 provides:
1) Mutual release of all further claims between parties,
2) City pays through its insurer $14,000,
3) City pays through its insurer all costs of mediation,
4) Mack Dobbs indemnifies City/Defendants from all claims which may be raised by Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan,
5) Settlement contingent upon Mayor and Council approval
For larger image: right click and open in new window.
1) Mutual release of all further claims between parties,
2) City pays through its insurer $14,000,
3) City pays through its insurer all costs of mediation,
4) Mack Dobbs indemnifies City/Defendants from all claims which may be raised by Cruchelow Jewelry and Loan,
5) Settlement contingent upon Mayor and Council approval
For larger image: right click and open in new window.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Gone and pretty much forgotten -
Cruchelow's left 5 months ago for Marietta and the old location remains unrented. The only reminder that the Pawn Shop was there is a small sign which has not yet been taken down.
The shopping center has 4 empty units out of 17 and the foolish civil suit filed by property Owner has now been settled in arbitration, although the settlement remains unknown at this writing.
Below Photo: John and Serena Cruchelow from May 2012 City Council Hearing
======================================================
11/15/12
The shopping center has 4 empty units out of 17 and the foolish civil suit filed by property Owner has now been settled in arbitration, although the settlement remains unknown at this writing.
11/15/12
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
It isn't open to the public but any resulting settlement will be published on the Cobb Court web site and if no agreement can be reached it will then go back before a judge for a trial.
If you want to keep up on this yourself you can go to: http://www.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/courts/default.htm and click on for 'Civil Search' then enter Kennesaw and after that choose which item you want to look at. Or you can just come back here and I will have the info posted FYI.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Still Open - No Business
The truck is John's and the car is Serena's, still no customers. I have never seen any business at this shop.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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