ARLINGTON – The building at 830 North Watson Road in Arlington has changed hands several times in its history. But this time will likely be the last.
"It was a big risk. It was a risk we were willing to take, being off the highway," said Omar Omar, owner of Cowboy Auto in Arlington.
He had always wanted to open an auto shop, and he did that from the ground up. Omar has been a tenant at that location for more than three years.
"It was more equipped for a strip club," he said.
That's because it was, once. Online records and Omar tell us it was called Legends.
The owner of the property is a group named PNYX. PYNX spokesman Michael Mantas told News 8 that Omar was the third or fourth tenant after it was a strip club, and later abandoned for about eight years.
"It surprised me that this was once a strip club," said Markzell Davis, who has been a regular at the auto shop.
Omar said the building was in very bad condition. All the electrical had been pulled out and it was clear that the homeless were staying inside, he explained.
"This is my entire life. This is what I do," he said. "I quit school to do business."
Business costs money, and Omar says he spent nearly $200,000 to fix it up. Before that, he was informed by the property owner that TxDOT had plans to expand the I-30/Highway 360 interchange, which runs parallel with the building.
But nobody knew TxDOT might need the space where Omar's business sits for the $254-million road project. He said the ball really started rolling this year.
Eminent domain meant the building on 830 N. Watson — along with several others nearby on the same road — may have to go.
"We're losing a good tenant," Michael Mantas said. "We're in the same situation, and we're distressed as well."
Mantas said it's working with the tenant to reduce the impact on his business. He says it's early, but they're starting to meet with the state over the property.
A condemnation hearing scheduled for next week has been postponed to next year, according to Omar.
TxDOT tells News 8 it cannot comment on ongoing negotiations with the property owner. But it does say Cowboy Auto is eligible for relocation assistance.
Omar says he's considered relocating, but worries about starting over again and the price he will pay for that. His position as a tenant means he has little say in the eminent domain process, he told us.
"We're working very hard to recoup our initial investment in the store," Omar said.
He said it's tough losing something after investing so much.
