DECATUR - Uncertainty clouds the future of the Village Mall next to Decatur Public Library.

The library owns the mall, and tenants left a recent meeting with library officials, fearing they soon will be evicted.

City Librarian Lee Ann Fisher said she is not at liberty to discuss possible plans, and there is no proposal on the table for other uses of the mall.

In the meantime, tenants believe their days are numbered.

"It's kind of up in the air," said Tiffany Boyer, owner of The Villa. "From what we heard, they are basically having everyone leave."

"There is a lot of uncertainty," added Nancy Fritts, owner of Kate's Cafe Bagels & Deli. "The only thing they told us so far is that our leases are no good."

Tenants are organizing to attend a library board meeting at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 to voice their concerns.

Fisher declined to elaborate on possible library plans for the property.

"We have retaken control of the Village Mall because of some legal issues with the person who was managing it for us," Fisher said. "I'm not really at liberty to go into any of that."

Tenants fear the library has other uses in mind for the mall.

"Whether it is or isn't, that's not something I'm at liberty to say," Fisher said. "The tenants have not been given notice. They've just been made aware of the situation."

In past years, the property was leased to Decatur developer John Cardwell. Cardwell's obligation was assigned last year to James Randall's firm, Fisher said.

"The library wasn't involved in that process," Fisher said. "With continued difficulties with that situation, the board decided they needed to take back control."

Tenants worry they will be forced by the library to leave before the end of the year.

"We don't know for sure, but the way we took the meeting is we've got until the end of October," Fritts said. "We're going to ask if we can stay through the end of December for our Christmas rush."

Mall tenants don't want to leave, Fritts said.

"This is my business," Fritts said. "If they make me leave, I'm going to have to go out of business. There's no way I can relocate; I don't have the money. I've got too much in this building."

Nearby businesses also are alarmed about the effects of the mall closing.

"It would leave us as a retail island," said Kim Soman, owner of nearby Novel Ideas. "As business owners, we are extraordinarily concerned about it."

Fritts said she is puzzled why the library possibly won't honor her lease.

"They're saying the leases we had with Randall and Cardwell are no good," Fritts said. "But when we did our leases, they were good, and I still think it's a good lease. That's why you have a lease, to protect you."

Boyer recently spent money renovating her store, and she is disappointed about the prospect of having to move.

"Lee Ann (Fisher) made it perfectly clear that, under no circumstances, will we get any money for relocating," Boyer said. "Clients and tenants really think it's sad that this unique and cute retail space is basically being shut down."

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.