I am responding to your article about disputes between China Blue and the University Bookstore (“China Blue, University Bookstore working out insurance conflict,” ODE, 10/19). The claim by the bookstore that China Blue is an unsafe operation is completely untrue. The fire of last year was quickly extinguished and caused no one any physical harm. The bookstore has also stated that it has had trouble communicating with China Blue. This is because the owners do not understand English well, resulting in times of non-compliance, and in no way reflects unwillingness to comply with the bookstore’s requests.
China Blue feels that it has been bullied by the bookstore and pressured to leave because of future plans for the space China Blue currently leases. China Blue’s lease ends August of 2005 and will not be renewed, which has implications that there are future plans for the space. The bookstore has claimed that China Blue has defaulted on the lease, citing code and lease violations. The bookstore has also gotten city officials involved increasing the pressure on China Blue to comply.
I am sure that many restaurants in Eugene are violating city code and don’t even know it. In order for China Blue to comply, it must spend thousands of dollars in upgrades. This is an enormous cost considering that there are less than four years on the lease. They are trying to make running China Blue so costly that we are forced to leave and vacate the space.
Ted Tsui
son of China Blue co-owner
Seattle, Wash.