Moving Businesses: Express Tire and Smokers Outlet

has moved west down Mission Gorge Road, next to Cotija Taco Shop, to a spot just near the 125 off-ramp, with the purpose of being in a higher traffic area and easier driveway access from the road.

The in Plaza de Cuyamaca, the same shopping center as , has shut its doors for the time being. A sign on their front door says the store is moving to a different location in Santee, but there is no indication where that will be or when.

The in the Plaza is also . An employee of that Rite Aid indicated that reason for the upcoming closure was mainly based on a rent increase by the property managers. She also said that other small shops in the center were facing challenging rent increases, and the Smokers Outlet was the first casualty.

Eric Harkreader, a spokesman for Rite Aid, said the store and the property manager weren't able to come to an agreement over the lease extension and once the lease was up, a decision was made to close the store.

The recent upgrade to the facade of the store, remodel of the storefront and remodel of the in the Plaza, and pressure for other stores to follow suit were cited by the Rite Aid employee as reasons for the rent increase.

Representatives of the Smokers Outlet could not be reached to verify reasons behind their move.