The Espy family and Watonga Wheat LLC will no longer operate the Roman Nose General Store, ending their lease on the facility after just one year in business.
Rory Espy told the Watonga Republican he never heard back from the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, which manages Oklahoma state parks, after the department sent Espy a noncompliance letter in late April. Espy responded to that letter, which alleged the store owner was in violation of his lease because Espy was selling unapproved food items and had a past-due water bill.
Espy argued that the foods – namely, steaks and items served in a buffet line – were compliant with the lease, and said he was previously unaware of the water bill but would pay it in full.
Espy said the department may have been unhappy that its non-compliance letter was publicized in the Republican, driving its decision not to offer him the opportunity to renew his annual lease agreement.
The store will instead be sold. Espy wasn’t authorized to disclose who will purchase the facility, but said the buyer is a local.
A park employee said Tuesday they aren’t yet sure who the new owners will be, either.
“My lease was up on June 15,” Espy explained last week. “And so instead of renewing it through the building owner, they let it go.”
Espy’s lease agreement mentions that incidents “that could jeopardize the image or reflect adversely on the State of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department” could be considered “grounds for termination” of the lease, but Espy received no specific media guidance, he said.
Though his time with the General Store is coming to an end, the Espys did share some good news after they spoke to the Watonga Republican. Espy said he had reached a “last minute deal” to sell interest in the store to the new ownership, and the store’s staff will remain in place. “Becky (Espy) and I will help advise through the transition,” he said.
“You will see continued improvements to come as the new owners share the same dreams and goals, some even bigger,” Espy wrote on Facebook. “We feel so blessed to have served all of you over the past year and are grateful for the love, support and growth.”