The Mayor and Council of the City of Mount Rainier issue the following statement regarding the closure of Barking Lot, a locally owned small business in the City.

The Mayor and Council and City of Mount Rainier are saddened by the closure of the locally owned business, Barking Lot. It was an important establishment that served many residents in our community and throughout the surrounding area. We recognize the sense of loss this creates and understand the stress it may cause within our local business community.

We would like to clarify several points. It is important to note that past and present members of the City Council have worked to support this business when issues arose at the County level. Corrections to the site plan were needed to proceed with permits, which are addressed by County Planning and Permitting authorities, not with the City. City staff are committed to continually making themselves available to assist business owners and field many calls and emails every day. At the same time, the City has a responsibility to balance the concerns of nearby residents, and efforts to address those concerns were underway when the announcement of the closure happened. 

While we are all disappointed by this outcome, we remain committed to supporting local businesses. We value their contributions to our community and will continue to stand by them as appropriate and within our authority.