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The Glenwood Springs City Council has rejected a request for a $750,000 sales tax rebate to support the opening of a Barnes & Noble bookstore at Glenwood Meadows. The decision was made after over an hour of deliberation and public comments, where concerns about fairness to local businesses and the lack of a formal incentive policy took center stage.
Developer Steve Shoflick had proposed the rebate to bring the bookstore to the 24,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond. Barnes & Noble had shown interest in the location, but the deal was contingent on receiving city support. Despite the rejection, Shoflick remains determined to proceed with the project without taxpayer assistance.
The vote highlighted ongoing debates around public incentives for national retailers, especially when local small businesses feel excluded from such opportunities. Council members emphasized the need for a more structured and transparent process for future incentive requests.
This decision follows a similar vote earlier in March, where the council denied another significant rebate for the redevelopment of the former Safeway site. As the Glenwood Meadows project progresses, the following steps will depend on private negotiations between the property owner and the bookstore chain.
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