Landlords sued by Beer Garden proprietors of Del Ray for legal action
In a surprising turn of events, the owners of The Garden, Jeremy Barber and Justus Frank, have filed a lawsuit against their landlord, Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC. The popular venue, located at 1503 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, has been the centre of a dispute between the parties.
The Garden, which opened its doors to the public in January 2019, has been the subject of an eviction attempt by the landlord for seven months. The owners allege that the landlord has been trying to evict them over property repair issues, despite the fact that Barber and Frank have renovated the property, which was previously in "extremely poor" condition.
The landlord, Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC, is managed by Paul Voustas, the son of the principals, Stratis and Georgia Voustas. Interestingly, the search results do not provide information on which lawyers represent Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC in this dispute.
The lease for The Garden expires in November, but the landlord will not honor the five-year renewal option. The revised lease sent back by the landlord proposes a base rent of $10,000 per month, climbing to $15,000 by the end of the five-year extension. However, Barber and Frank's base rent for their extension should continue to be $5,625 per month, as stated in their original lease.
The lawsuit filed by Barber and Frank seeks a Court order requiring the landlord to cease and desist in attempting to evict them, and for at least $6,000 in rent overpaid by the tenants. Additionally, if they win their case, Barber and Frank will have the right of first refusal if the property is sold.
The property where The Garden is located is now on the market for rent, according to recent reports. Interestingly, the land, which is valued at $445,452, and the building, valued at $127,186, were last assessed at $573,000 in value by the city in January.
Barber and Frank, who also own Mill Street Draft Garden in Occoquan, are considering moving The Garden, unless a deal can be struck to buy the property. Whether the property can be leased during a lawsuit is "up to the attorneys," according to sources close to the situation.
The Garden has been a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, offering a wide variety of food and drink options, as well as live music and events. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the local community and the future of The Garden.
