Two local stores evicted

Nary sword nor dagger can be found in the mall, nor can a vixen be found downtown.\nUpset landlords evicted them all. Arms merchants and escorts were left with a frown.\nShawn and Cindy Haverfield, owners of The Dragon's Claw, formerly in College Mall, and Vixen's, formerly at 412 E. Fourth St., were given the boot from both locations simultaneously in April.\nThe Dragon's Claw, which sells replicas of antique arms and armor, was evicted from College Mall one week before Vixens, a lingerie shop and escort service, was simultaneously kicked out of their 4th street store front.\nMatthew Blair, a manager at The Dragon's Claw and friend of the Halversons', said the sword shop was given the axe by mall owner Simon Properties after it failed to make enough profit. The lingerie store was stripped of its spot after the Fourth Street Community Board decided they only wanted restaurants on Fourth street.\nBlair said about 20 employees were let go because of the two closings.\n"We had to be out of The Dragon's Claw by the 8th of that month," Blair said. "And we had to be out of Vixen's by the 16th of that month. If it wasn't so depressing it would have been funny."\nA Simon Properties spokeswoman said The Dragon's Claw was under a temporary license agreement in their new location, which allowed College Mall to cancel their lease at any time.\n"In this particular case however they were not living up to the terms of the license agreement," the spokeswoman said. \nBut Blair said the store was treated unfairly by the mall. He said the storefront the business originally wanted was "bought out from under them" by another business, and the store was placed in a less prosperous location near L.S. Ayres. He also said the mall agreed to place signs informing customers of the move but did not, and as a result several regular customers couldn't find the new location.\nWhereas the Simon spokeswoman said businesses evicted from a temporary license agreement are typically given 30 days to move out and allowed the opportunity to sell off inventory. Blair said The Dragon's Claw was given 8 days notice and was told to lock their doors immediately without the opportunity to liquidate their stock.\nConflicting accounts also arise in the tale of Vixens move from Fourth street. Sara Harvey, who owns Vintage Warehouse -- a clothing store across the street from the former Vixens location, said no decision was ever made by a community board to kick Vixens out.\n"First of all there is no Fourth Street Community Board," Harvey said. "I've been here for 15 years. As far as I know there's no board."\nAs for The Dragon's Claw, the Haverfields are still plying their wares at conventions and Blair said they hope to reopen the store in a new strip mall under construction on highway 37. Until then The Dragon's Claw's merchandise is available, and on sale, online at www.the-dragons-claw.com.