Closing down business.. landlord is being unreasonable..

[Singlemama]

Last year I moved my business into a dying mall in Ohio. They allowed me to sign a 3 month lease which I expended another 6 months. That lease period ends May 31st. During the past 6 months several of the major stores have closed including an anchor. The mall is at less than 50% occupancy at this point as well. I decided to move my business and notified the manager last month that I would be out by May 31st. She said no problem . I have since been closed a few days to facilitate the moving of my business . The manager was aware of these days and said that it was fine. Today I told her I would be closing at the end of the month so I could move out and she told me that everyday I did not open she would fine me $50 per day. I checked my lease and it does state that I can be fined $100 per day for not opening. I have a few issues with this. First, my rent is only $500 per month. Can they impose such a hefty fee ? Second.. am I not allowed time to close to move out? The manager informed she me that she expects me to be open until May 31st. When am I supposed to move out? Its not a small store ( 2000 sq ft. sales floor and 600 sq ft. store room) so I will need some time to move. There are a few other things that are in the lease that they have let slide such as not being allowed to have a moving sale.. but I have had a moving sale for almost a month now.. with large signs up in my store. She also did not fine me for the other days I was closed. Also, several other stores had negotiated in thier leases not to have to open on specific days and are not open on those days on an ongoing basis. I realize this was not part of my lease but the manager claims a store not being open looks bad to the customers and that is the reason for the fine. How can they allow the other stores to close regularly and fine me for a few weeks to close my business. I am just confused and frustrated. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[presutin]

Q: How can they allow the other stores to close regularly and fine me for a few weeks to close my business ?.
A: Why are you assuming that your lease terms are the same as the other stores? I don't think your landlord is being unreasonable if she is enforcing the lease terms that you agreed to when you signed your lease.

If it is stated in the lease that you are to pay for the days that you are not open (regardless of the monthly rent), then, use your best judgment and do what is less costly for you.

 

[Singlemama]

Q: How can they allow the other stores to close regularly and fine me for a few weeks to close my business ?.
A: Why are you assuming that your lease terms are the same as the other stores? I don't think your landlord is being unreasonable if she is enforcing the lease terms that you agreed to when you signed your lease.

If it is stated in the lease that you are to pay for the days that you are not open (regardless of the monthly rent), then, use your best judgment and do what is less costly for you.

I know the terms are not the same but the reason for the fine .. as stated in the lease.. is that a closed business damages the good will of the mall and creates bad will with potential customers. So... how is thier closeing ok.. but mine is not? Would all closed stores not potentially create the same " bad will" ? A customer certainly does not know that this store is allowed to close and this one is not.
I would not have an issue at all with this fine if say I were closing regularly all the time during the period of my lease but I think its unreasonable not to allow me to close my store at the end of my lease to move out. She allowed me a month at the beginning of my lease to open so why is it unreasonable to ask for the same to close? She has not enforced the terms of the lease at all to this point so it confuses me that she chooses to do it now. As I stated before I have closed several times previously with no fine and there are other issues in the lease that she has not enforced.