The U.S. government may shut down Polly’s Pantry but hasn’t been able to break the spirit of English owners Polly and John Bennett, who lost their visa after 10 years.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen; we’re going to be homeless and go back to England,” said Tricia “Polly” Bennett. “But we both have faith in God. Without faith, we couldn’t get through this.”
The Bennetts are from England, and operated the popular restaurant and tearoom in Wildwood for the past decade. The Department of Homeland Security this year failed to renew their E2 visa, which allows them to do business and work in the U.S. The Bennetts were notified in late March their visa might not be renewed.
Then, on April 14, they were told they had two weeks to close the business and leave the country. Polly’s Pantry, long a popular tearoom for Villagers, is scheduled to close Saturday.
The story first appeared on Villages-News.com this week and has generated a tremendous response and worldwide interest. It was picked up by Canada Free Press web site and other internet sites, along with Orlando television news.
Also, Sen. Marco Rubio’s office has expressed an interest in helping the Bennetts, Polly said. “We regret to learn of the difficulties you are facing at this time and we’ll try to see if there is something that our office can do to assist you,” stated a correspondence to them from Sen. Rubio’s office.
At least that gives the Bennetts a sliver of hope for a last-minute reprieve.
“Like they say in America, it isn’t over until the fat mama sings,” Polly said.
But the couple is being realistic and ready to leave after an emotionally overwhelming past two weeks.
“It’s sad and I stay up at night and cry when I think about all we’ve lost – our home, our business and leaving our friends,” Polly Bennett said Friday. “We’re flying back to England on Sunday to stay with friends. We have nowhere else to go. We’re basically homeless.”
The Bennetts said they never had a visa problem until this year. They said they have paid Federal Income tax as well as Social Security tax, since they have operated Polly’s Pantry.
The E2 visa has been described as: “The E-2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States based on an investment he or she will be controlling, while inside the United States.”
This year, John Bennett said, the Department of Homeland Security told them in March they should employ more people and more Americans.
“We didn’t know that until this year; we told them we were going to do that,” he said, after they paid their visa fee of $2,500. But a few weeks later, he said, they were told the visa would not be renewed.
“We just didn’t have time,” he said.
Some have wondered why the Bennetts did not become American citizens, as they have spent 10 years living here. John Bennett said he was told by attorneys that English people could not become citizens unless they married an American citizen or were sponsored by a business company.
“We would have loved to become American citizens,” Polly Bennett said. “But it was impossible for us; we weren’t allowed to.”
The Bennetts have been selling everything in the charming, cozy tearoom. The building is also for sale as is their home in Leesburg.
“This is so sad,” said Villager Natalie Soto, one of the dozens of Villagers who have been visiting the restaurant over the past two weeks.
“I’m completely devastated that these two, good people, who serve our community and run a business, are being kicked out by the government. I think it’s time the government admitted it made a mistake. This is America. I don’t understand why this is happening here.”
Villager Hazel Kaufman summed up the feeling of many Villagers when she told Villages-News.com earlier this week:
“I’m ashamed of my country; it’s appalling and this is not the way America treats people,” Kaufman said. “Polly and John Bennett are hardworking, caring people who ran a business here for 10 years. Everybody in The Villages loves them.
“These are not illegal immigrants trying to sneak into America. These are business owners who employ people in Florida. These are good people.”
The future is uncertain for the Bennetts.
Polly is a published author and lecturer. She is currently finishing her autobiography detailing her life as a homeless and abused child. “I hope it’s a best-seller so I can come back to America with a lot of money and they won’t kick me out,” she said with a smile.
For now, though, it’s time to sell the furnishing and pack up the memories of 10 years serving The Villages and others in Central Florida.
“There was always something special about this place,” Natalie Soto said. “It’s unique in The Villages. People of all ages come here and it is a warm, welcoming place where everybody feels at home.”
“For us it wasn’t just about money,” Polly Bennett said. “So many people are rushing around, trying to make a dollar and that’s all they care about.
“Polly’s Pantry was a place for warmth and friendship. This is a place where you could always find a hug.”
On Sunday, Polly and John expect to be on plane to another land and another place.
“We’ll get through this somehow, because we have faith,” he said. “And we’ll always remember our time in America.”
