Uniquely Global to Close Dedham Square Location

After just two years since opening her for business, Lina Pishkin will close her Uniquely Global store in Dedham Square at the end of September.

In an interview Tuesday, Pishkin said she had a horrendously slow summer - just $800 worth of business between July and August - at her store, Uniquely Global on Bryant Street.

Several factors are playing into Pishkin's decision to close - high property taxes, Bryant Street construction, and her lease agreement.

"How can I pay a $8,000 bill when I'm just hoping to make that for Christmas?" Pishkin said.

About $6,000 goes to property taxes and $2,000 goes to landscaping and snow removal fees.

Uniquely Global has marked down items 30 percent as of Wednesday, and Pishkin hopes to get rid of everything from merchandise to fixtures as soon as she can.

"I can't stuff this in my garage," said the Boston resident. "I'm seriously frazzled because I have a lot of merchandise."

Located immediately across from Town Hall on Bryant Street, Uniquely Global is the only store in the development, owned and operated by Girogio Petruzziello's Supreme Development company.

"I don't think it is the location at all," Pishkin said.

Petruzziello notified Pishkin Tuesday that he would need her decision to leave or stay by the end of the month, and that he had somebody ready to take over her lease.

Pishkin said she wasn't behind on rent with Petruzziello, but several factors played into her decision to close.

She attempted to apply for a small business loan, made available by the Obama Administration, but was declined because she didn't make $210,000 a year and hadn't been open for five or more years.

"I said, 'Do you think if I made $200,000 a year I would need a stinking loan?' Why would I need a loan?" Pishkin said.

Adding to the slow business was the construction on Bryant Street during August and September. Bryant Street was closed often, and no notification was given to businesses that the construction would happen.

Construction in September was for a gas leak, requiring repairs under the road, according to town officials.

Pishkin said on several occasions she closed at 1 p.m. because business was so slow.

"I couldn't even park in my own parking lot," she said.

Everything snowballed quickly for Uniquely Global - a family-run business, where Pishkin's son often works. The high bills, unavailability of a loan and lack of customers all led to her decision to shut her doors.

"I have to go," an visibly upset Pishkin said. "If [Petruzziello] has someone taking on this lease why wouldn't I want to leave. I won't have to pay any more bills for him.

"For four months I feel like I've been working for his company. Everything I make is going to him."