It's very likely that the tax and politics that others mention isn't the issue. I would venture a guess that it's greedy plaza owners who see the strong growth in the strip mall ( REI, Kaladi, Tidal Wave, Middle Way Cafe, etc. etc.) and figure they can get richer off the businesses by increasing the rent. Typical theme of biting the hand that feeds. If Mush Inn Corp. and Yoo Jin Management Co. Ltd owner/s had a lick of sense, they would follow Hickel's lead and nurture the current businesses.