Well, the future for most of the storefronts at the Del Mor apartments has been kicked hard. The company that owns the building, Positive Investments, suddenly wants huge rent increases -- in a rental market that is turning downward. El Batey grocery and general store may close after 40 years in business. The grocery's owner, Evailia, told me the other day that she would decide in January what to do. The indie clothing designer Nina Lucas is going to move out of her shop and double up with Show Pony. Kime Buzzelli who owns Show Pony, the tiny shop that has been featured in Vogue and other publications, said she doesn't always cover the rent that she's charged even now -- so a threefold increase? But she wants to stay open. She's a bright, lovely spirit, and it would be an awful loss for Chicken Corner if she left -- same for Flounce and most of the other shops.

One proprietor said Positive Investments was looking into an H&R Block on the block. To light a fire under the indie tax preparers in the neighborhood, like the elderly gentleman down on Sunset near the Bank of America or the office on Echo Park Avenue north of Effie Street?

I've heard that a curious origin of events may have led to the leases being examined. One nameless friend says it may have started with the police. Several weeks ago, he says, the police started visiting the shops, checking to see who was committing the act of resale -- i.e., vintage items at Flounce or anywhere else. You need a permit to resell goods. That way, you're not selling stolen items. (Yeah, okay, fine.) So they start checking -- doing their jobs -- and they discover no one has permits. And they can't get permits because...they don't have leases. (Never mind that my friend has seen people on weekends with lawn-blanket operations at Echo Park Lake selling televisions and jewlery. Get your stolen televisions here! They're going fast! -- Maybe their permits are in order.) So the boutiques folks ask Positive for leases. Positive -- which is known for neglecting its properties -- takes note of the building and decides...in this case paying attention would pay off. What do they care for indie spirit, the community of Echo Park, 40 years of beans and pastries?

So there we have it, for the moment at least. A couple of days ago, there was a handwritten sign in the window of Work. It said: Not for rent.