MIDDLEBURG – Now that Black Creek Plaza in Middleburg is under new ownership, current tenants will have new homes.

The strip mall is currently home to the establishments ProCuts, United Cash Express, Brightway Insurance, John Fagan, Attorney at Law and other businesses, but that is set to change in the next 90 days. The Orange Park Medical Center recently purchased the strip for a new care center, which will force current tenants out.

“We got an email that the building had been sold,” said Neil Tinney, a paramedic who is also the proprietor of Massageology at Black Creek Plaza. “Two days later- I believe it was on a Wednesday- we got another certified letter from a property management company that they were going to exercise a clause in everybody’s lease, and we had 90 days to get out.”

The situation is frightening to many of the establishments. Some have been there for decades and having to locate a new place and move within the 90-day time frame looks to be a daunting task. Not only will it be a complicated process to find new available locations for the businesses, but it’s also an expensive process.

“I found a building that I was trying to purchase, so I went to a bank,” said Tinney. “But the biggest part for me is that I haven’t even been in business for three years, so a bank won’t even touch me. I’m fortunate that I’ll be able to bring together enough to try to buy this building that I’ll have to pay cash for. But I mean, we’re talking $115,000 for me to even get into a building. I’m taking money out of my retirement account. I wasn’t really ready to do all of this right at the moment, but if I don’t want to lose my business, I really don’t have a choice if I want to stay in Middleburg.”

Tinney estimates that with all expenses accounted for, the move will cost his business about $140,000.

Tinney opened Masseology in 2018. Other establishments are more tenured. One friend of Tinney’s cuts hair at ProCuts and has been there for 21 years.

“I feel bad for the families and kids who rely on these businesses to survive,” he said. “In the middle of a pandemic, I think to put people out like that is just wrong.”

“We certainly understand the disruption that is occurring and are working with the current tenants to assist them in the transition. We have given them a 90-day notice in accordance with their lease in order to allow them time to find another location and to relocate,” said Peter Moberg, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for HCA Healthcare.

Currently, the OPMC is evaluating plans for the development of a new care site that would be stood up at the strip mall location to better serve the healthcare needs of a growing community, according to Moberg.