One of the really frustrating things for me is that we still have no word from our biggest landlord in town, Stephen Karp. We may be “small potatoes” to Mr. Karp, but everyone from the mayor on down would like Mr. Karp himself to make a personal visit to Newburyport, MA and give us some idea of what is on his mind for our small seaport city.

When we as residents see a long time and well loved establishment like The Arboretum at 58 Merrimac Street go out of business because of a raise in rent, rumors start to fly all over the place.

One of the wildest rumors that I’ve heard is that L.L.Bean is coming to town and is going to go where the Fitness Factory is now located. (Mr. Karp owns the building)

I usually don’t do much fact checking, but I thought that rumor was so nuts that I actually called the owner of the Fitness Factory, Kate Hudson, and asked what the heck was going on.

Well, absolutely nothing is going on. The Fitness Factory is going to stay put, just where it is, just like it has been for the last 25 years, thank you very much. Well, whew on that one.

But, these crazy rumors have got to stop. And Mr. Steven Karp owes us a visit, because darn it, we deserve to know what the heck is going on in Newburyport, MA. The distrust of Mr. Karp and the general unease is very high in this New England seaport city.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Editors note: It has also been confirmed by L.L.Bean that there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that L.L.Bean is coming to town and is moving into the Fitness Factory.