Modesto shop owner who once was in their shoes says homeless are killing his business

Michael Alexander knows what it is to be homeless and an addict. A number of years ago, when he resided in Turlock, the deaths of his birth mother and adopted mother sent him “into a hole” — eventually, literally.

That return to being functioning members of society is what he said he wants for the homeless who camp around his and Fowler’s business, Blue Goose Antiques & Collectables on North Santa Cruz Avenue off Yosemite Boulevard.


Because what they’re doing now includes defecating and urinating on and near the property, openly drinking alcohol, using meth and smoking crack, leaving syringes and, as a consequence of all this, driving away customers of the 7-year-old shop, Alexander said. It’s at the point where unless the situation improves, he and Fowler likely will close their doors and relocate to Mariposa, he said.



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