"We are month to month," said Agatha Kim next door at Daniella.

"It's been a holding pattern," said Alfred Hawley, who's owned and operated a candy store at the marketplace for more than a decade.

"I think these people are out! What HPU plan is, is to make that a second campus," said Green at his Bishop Street office overlooking Aloha Tower.

Green said Bushor planned to include theaters, a recreational center, hotels, and even a place for the New Hope Church to gather.

HPU plans to add 200 student lofts, but maintains the rest will be a mix of retail and restaurants.

Whatever happens, businesses still at the marketplace are hoping they've held on for good reason.

"I know they can do a better job than what's been going on here in the past few years. It can't get any worse," said Hawley.

It gets even messier.

Green said HPU locked Bushor out of his office a few weeks ago on purpose.

HPU said it simply changed the locks when it took over management.