ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The owner of the Pulse nightclub, where 49 people died and at least 53 were injured in a mass shooting, told Channel 9's Karla Ray that the decision to sell the club to the city of Orlando is "bittersweet."
Barbara Poma spoke one-on-one with Eyewitness News about the decision to sell the club for $2.25 million to ensure that a memorial is built to mourn the lives lost and honor the survivors from June 12.
“(This is) extremely bittersweet. We never thought that it would not be ours and it’s a lot of emotional attachment to. It wasn’t just a business for us, so it’s been a really rough morning,” Poma said.
The purchase price is more than a half-million dollars over the appraised value. But Poma said that she’s not profiting from the sale.
“No, we're not profiting off this at all. Along with any other business, there's debt. That's what the money here will fund to do, is create a new Pulse,” Poma said.
The location for the new Pulse nightclub, with the same name, has not been finalized yet.
Poma said the city is better suited to run a memorial for generations to come.
“I think some days are better than others. Some parts of the days are better than others, still have some really cloudy moments. Some days you wake up and think it's all a dream and it didn't really happen and you realize it has,” Poma said.
9 Investigates uncovered the Pomas’ have created five limited liability companies in the last few weeks. She said the companies are part of the groundwork for reopening in a new location.
“We hope to have a property soon. We have a vision in our minds what we want it to be very similar to what we have here,” Poma said.
Poma said she has no timeline to reopen a new club, but said she will have a dual focus on the city’s plans to create the memorial for what was once a safe haven for the Orlando gay community.
“(The) most we hear is, ‘We miss our home,it doesn't feel like home,’ so we want it to feel like home,” Poma said.
RELATED STORY: City of Orlando to purchase Pulse nightclub for $2.25 million, turn it into memorial
City of Orlando to purchase Pulse nightclub for $2.25 million, turn it into memorial