"Save Hot Dog Heaven"

After more than 12 businesses celebrated openings in Downtown Woodstock this year, one could see a closing in the near future.

sent a letter Nov. 7 stating the owners, Paul “Barney” and Carolyn “Betty” Wentzel, must pay off their renewed loan of $258,000 or sell their business.

Michael M. Allen, senior vice president of special assets at Ameris Bank, wrote “this renewal is to allow you six months to obtain alternate financing or to allow time for you to sell the business and pay the loan off”.

The Downtown Woodstock restaurant has been open for approximately eight years, but Mrs. Wentzel has been paying for the building for a year before the family shop opened.

Mr. Wentzel said they renew their commercial loan every three years and did so like clockwork this past month. While waiting for the appraisal, they made the payment like normal, which was on time as usual.

A representative from Ameris Bank called the Wentzels to share the news their loan had been called, and they had six to nine months to pay it off. It wasn’t until the owners requested the information in writing that they received a letter from the bank.

“They said they are going to stop the bleeding now,” said Mr. Wentzel. “They figure a year from now we won’t be able to make our payments.”

Mrs. Wentzel, a Woodstock native, said they’ve tried contacting lawyers, but the path the bank has taken to call their loan is legal.

“Ameris Bank won’t give us a reason,” said Mrs. Wentzel. “They are saying we aren’t viable. We aren’t worth being here any more. We are saving you from yourself. You are going to go under.”

According to the Wentzels, the bank called the loan even though:

• They haven't missed any payments.
• They haven't been late on payments.
• Business is as good as ever.
• They even had enough cash to pay out of their own pockets for a small expansion—a $15,000 bakery addition that has allowed them to start selling doughnuts.

A Facebook Group called Save Hot Dog Heaven has been created in support of this small business. Supporters are offering advice, discussing fundraisers and even calling upon Occupy Atlanta to save this family business.

 “Ma and Pops are going by the wayside, and this is proof,” said Mrs. Wentzel. “Banks are putting them out of business.”