North Side restaurant with vaccine requirement in rent dispute with landlord
Share this post:
On Monday, the owners of Lola Bistro on the North Side made local news by announcing, starting this week, customers would have to show proof of covid-19 vaccination. That same day, their landlord posted a “notice to quit” on the restaurant, initiating court proceedings to collect $13,000 in unpaid rent.
Yelena Barnhouse, who with her husband Michael owns Lola Bistro on West North Avenue, said they’ve been paying $1,000 of the $1,300 per month in rent they owe each month.
But Buena Vista Management property manager Kate Kay said the Barnhouses owe $8,000 from 2020 and $5,000 from 2021, and that doesn’t include any penalties.
Kay said she was not aware of the restaurant’s “vaccination mandate,” and Yelena Barnhouse said she doesn’t think the posted notice was timed to the restaurant’s proof of vaccination request.
The posted warning gives the restaurant 15 days to pay or a notice will be filed with the local magistrate.
“We’ve sent her emails that we are trying to pay,” said Barnhouse, referring to the $1,000 per month they’ve been paying. “We haven’t gotten any help from the government. This pandemic has been very difficult.”
Kay said she understands the challenges restaurants have been facing because of covid-19 and has set up payment plans with other tenants.
The lease is up on May 31, 2024, Kay said.
Barnhouse said the restaurant has taken some heat for saying they’d only serve customers who have been vaccinated. The policy also applies to their pub, Leo, a few blocks away on Allegheny Avenue.
“We’ve been threatened and called names,” she said. “But I am not taking people’s freedom away.”
“This is unfortunate,” Kay said. “This is not typical for us. I just want them to follow the contract and communicate with me. I suggested we do a payment plan earlier this year or we end the relationship. They have been a tenant for a long time. We’ve lost so much money. I’ve given them chances in the past. I just want this to end peaceful. I told them we can end the lease amicably. This whole thing has kind of blown up.”
Kay said the paper she posted on the restaurant’s door is not an eviction notice but a chance for the owners to make it right.