From:            Michele Manasse
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] submitting oral testimony
Date:              Tuesday, April 28, 2020 1:52:56 PM
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I am submitting my oral testimony that I gave today, April 28th, at the Port Commissioners meeting.
If this is not the correct email could you please forward it to the right email and let me know for the
future.

Thank you!

Michele Manasse




"My name is Michele Manasse. I am the owner of the local gift stores called Fireworks. I am also
here as a member of the SBAAC. Fireworks has 2 locations at SeaTac Airport. During this pandemic
the well-being of our staff has been our number one priority. Until last week, we had been paying
our staff full salary plus benefits throughout the closures. Unfortunately, we could no longer sustain
these costs and, as of last week, all our SeaTac employees are on furlough although we are
continuing to pay their health benefits. The monies outlaid for payroll during COVID came from the
profits we accumulated with 2019 4th quarter sales and were meant to sustain us during the first 6
months of 2020 during which time we typically operate in the red. With no income, bleeding
monies as well as having recently invested $3 million for the complete renovation of our main C
Terminal location and build out of the our second store at D Gates we are in dire straits.
Furthermore, we all know that enplanements will not be back to 2019 levels for a long time, some
predict years. I am here to say that rent deferment, unfortunately, is not enough. In order for us to
survive and thrive in the long term, we will need a comprehensive, long term plan as has been laid
out in the SBAAC discussion points including:

Rent abatement for time we have been closed
Renegotiation of our leases to include no mag, percentage rent only until we hit 2019 numbers again
Extension of leases to recoup our losses and investments

Thank you for your time!"


!



MICHELE MANASSE, Chief Firecracker






FIREWORKS GALLERIES | 3307 Utah Ave S | Seattle WA 98134
TEL 206.682.8707 | FAX 206.467.6366 | fireworksgallery.net
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