NATCHEZ &8212; The owner of one of two buildings to be demolished on the site of a proposed South Canal Street hotel said he has hope his gift shop will be able to stay open at the location a little while longer.

Demolishing the hotel before crews are actually ready to start building the Country Inn and Suites across from the convention center doesn&8217;t make sense, owner Jonathan Wood said.

He noted his business is one of few open on Sundays, goes out of its way to welcome tourists, advertises itself &8212; and thus, Natchez &8212; nationally. He said he hasn&8217;t decided what to do with his businesses if it&8217;s evicted from the city-owned site.

About a week ago, city officials served Wood notice he &8212; along with Donald Shupe, owner of an antique business that&8217;s the lot&8217;s only other occupant &8212; would be asked to vacate those buildings of April 30. Shupe couldn&8217;t be reached for comment Tuesday.

But Mayor Phillip West confirmed Tuesday he met with Wood Monday and will recommend to aldermen at their March 28 meeting the businesses be left in place until 30 days before hotel construction starts.

&8220;I don&8217;t think anyone will have a problem with that,&8221; West said. &8220;No one wants to put anyone out of business unnecessarily.&8221;

Developer Thomas Bauer has said construction should start in the third quarter of this year. Wood said since the only asbestos to be removed from his building before demolition is a small amount in the ceiling and floor, that abatement and demolition shouldn&8217;t take more than five days before building begins.

Wood said evicting his business wouldn&8217;t be the best move on the city&8217;s part.

In addition to citing the fact that his business employs locals, including high school co-op students, and pays city rent and taxes, Wood noted that &8220;we&8217;re one of the few businesses that does open on Sundays, giving them something besides historic (sites) to visit.&8221;

Plus, Wood said, &8220;the city doesn&8217;t need another empty building. Taking it down five months early tells tourists, &8216;Go home and come back in 2008.&8217;&8221;