“The Cost is Just Extraordinary” — Councilmember raises concerns about cost of rent for business properties in Rawlins
SARATOGA — “A lot of our buildings that are just sitting there are really rotting away, and it’s due to the rent that the owners have for the buildings,” said Councilman Derek Elliott.
Elliott raised the issue of high rent for empty business properties during the March 17 meeting of the Rawlins City Council. He also asked about vocational programs to help potential new businesses recruit and retain employees.
Elliott, who is now in his second year of a four-year term on the council, said he reached out to FIDC XXII LLC—owned by Cocca Development—the owners of 2201 Plaza Street. The building currently houses Tractor Supply and two other empty storefronts, one of which used to include Dollar Tree.
“I wanted to find out what their rent or lease is per month because I thought maybe it would be affordable for us to put an activity center or something there,” said Elliott. “They want $10 per square foot, and I believe they have 9,500 square feet. So, it would be close to $100,000 a month in rent. I know that is probably not doable for us.”
Elliott estimated the middle space of the building, which he said used to be a grocery store, to measure around 15,000 square feet.
“That would be an even greater amount,” said Elliott.
According to information
from the Carbon County Assessor’s Office, the entire building is 46,972 square feet. The building and the more than six-and-a-half acres is valued at $2.2 million. The eastern-most side of the building is 9,842 square feet and the center portion is approximately 14,600 square feet.
The building at 2201 Plaza Street wasn’t the only one the council member had checked into. Elliott said he also checked on property at 1730 Spruce Street, which housed Chen’s Garden and Four Season Chinese Buffet prior to that.
“I was thinking maybe somebody in the community could put a restaurant there. They’re wanting close to $8,000 per month just for rent,” said Elliott. “The cost is just extraordinary.”
Along with asking about the rent for currently empty spaces in Rawlins, Elliott said he had reached out to various furniture stores about opening up a location in downtown Rawlins. Up until recently, Rasmussen Furniture had operated at 316 W. Cedar Street, owned by Jim and Mary Penland who had bought it from the Rasmussen family in 1971.
“I’ve probably spoke to nine [furniture stores] in the last two weeks, and half of them have a worry about staffing issues for a furniture store and what kind of employees would be running it for them,” said Elliott. “Maybe somebody on the council knows of a program for upcoming workers or how to work in a field. I think that’s maybe a concern for a lot of businesses coming into Rawlins, is how is their business going to be run.”
No other council members said whether they knew of such a program.
This story was published on March 27, 2026.