Vox Pop owner Mark Cuffe was advised to vacate his Bowral shop in Oxley Mall earlier this year and now he wants answers.

After three and a half years in the building, the Bowral businessman was advised to move his business and leave the building because of renovations.

Since March, Mr Cuffe has been searching for a new shop for his business but said it was slim pickings.

"You can get a cheaper shop in Sydney that generates more volume than here," Mr Cuffe said.

"What delusion are the people who own these assets under?"

After researching rent prices on Bong Bong Street and several arcades in Bowral, Mr Cuffe said the number of empty shops was not surprising.

"I have seen empty shops down on Bong Bong Street for at least four years," he said.

"I know a business that moved to a more prominent position in Bong Bong Street and she closed down after six months because, while she was doubling the money, her rent was triple."

"It's a country town. Why is it so expensive here? What is the incentive to start a business here with these high rent prices and what incentive do youth have to stay here?" The Highlands, and especially Bowral, has been known for its unique and quirky specialty stores but with a number of independent stores leaving the Highlands, Mr Cuffe is worried Bowral will become another corporate chain.

"They were trying to generate boutique Bowral with all these quirky shops, but the powers-that-be are destroying this town," he said.

"I remember coming down here 10 to 15 years ago and there were all these quirky shops and now, why come here from Double Bay when it's more expensive?"

After moving to the Highlands to start his business only to be forced out, Mr Cuffe is calling for answers.

Click here to read another story about how high rent prices have closed another business down.