Evicted Palm Springs businesses reach move-out deadline
A landlord tenant dispute has forced some Palm Springs business owners to pack up and move out.
Sunday was officially the last day for tenants to move out.
For five years Dimitri Halkidis called Galley 446 his second home.
Now only a few remnants of local artist Kenny Irwin’s Mongolian Easter Bunny installation remain in the gallery.
Halkidis is one of nearly a dozen tenants forced to move after receiving an eviction notice at the end of March.
But as Halkidis packed up he said he’s not sad.
“I am ready for the change, you know, I am not bummed at all. How can I be bummed when I had 11 Marines from 29 Palms yesterday working endlessly to get the exhibition out of here safely and onto the property of Kenny Irwin’s estate. And also to have Desert Arch contributing trucks to transport it. I am very, very blessed,” Halkidis said.
Ben Sullivan, who owns KBC Cabinets next door, donated what he knew he couldn’t take with him to Habitat for Humanity.
“The Habitat for Humanity got two kitchens, they got bathrooms, they got tons of pluming fixtures and all kinds of stuff,” Sullivan said.
He’s now starting work on his temporary space across the street.
While both business owners are trying to remain positive, both agree the experience was nothing short of a nightmare.
“It’s been a bit of a nightmare, I have to say. You know, less than 60 days to move a business of my size. Again I’m a kitchen showroom, I’ve got a lot of stuff to move,” Sullivan said.
“It wasn’t like, ‘OK thank you, you need to be out by May 31, you’re each going to get excess amount of dollars to move out.’ It’s more like ‘Good luck to you and good bye,'” Halkidis said.
Halkidis is still searching for a new home for Gallery 446 but remains optimistic he’ll find the right place.
He also ran Boo 2 Bullying, an anti-bullying campaign, in the space next to the gallery.
Halkidis is currently in the process of securing a new location in Desert Hot Springs for Boo 2 Bullying so he can continue helping teens.
