Six months after opening a high-profile location in Circle Centre, Bella Vita restaurant is being sued by the landlord over
$96,523.23 in unpaid rent.
In a civil lawsuit filed Monday, June 7, in Marion County Court, plaintiff Circle Centre Mall LLC says defendant Bella Vita
LLC has been in default on its lease since April 19. Najem Enterprises Inc. is also named as a defendant.
Bella Vita owner Henri Najem—who has ties to embattled local businessman Tim Durham—has operated a Bella Vita
restaurant in the Indianapolis area since 1998 along with his wife, Shelley, including the past five years at Geist Marina.
The owners in January opened a second Bella Vita in high-traffic space on the first floor of Circle Centre that had been empty
since long-time tenant Bertolini’s closed in March 2008.
Najem did not respond to IBJ’s call requesting comment. Neither did Richard M. Giesel, an attorney with locally-based
Gaston, Cavanaugh and Giesel, which represents Circle Centre.
According to court documents, Bella Vita on Nov. 11 executed a lease agreement for 6,490 square feet of space in Circle Centre,
agreeing to pay $200,000 in the first year in equal installments due the first day of each month. In the second year of Bella
Vita’s lease, rent is slated to increase to $206,000, with another increase to $212,180 scheduled for the third year.
Bella Vita also agreed to an annual central plant charge of $14,927. The lease includes a personal guarantee by Henri Najem.
On April 19, according to court documents, Circle Centre declared the lease officially in default, notified Bella Vita, and
demanded the lease’s terms be met by May 2. Bella Vita “failed and refused” to cure its default by that
deadline, according to the lawsuit, which notes Circle Centre is now entitled to immediate repossession of the space.
The restaurant was still open as of Thursday.
In December, Najem
told IBJ he’d sought an opportunity to open a restaurant downtown for two years. “All the
development and the expansion of the [Indiana] Convention Center really drew me here,” he said then.
Durham is not involved in the downtown Bella Vita, but he has partnered with Najem on previous attempts
to expand the restaurant.
- Home
- NEWS
- REGIONAL
- THIS WEEK'S PAPER
- BLOGS
- Multimedia
- OPINION
- A&E
- LISTS
- PEOPLE
- EVENTS
- Classifieds
- Subscribe
IBJNews
Circle Centre sues restaurant Bella Vita over unpaid rent
Peter Schnitzler
June 11, 2010
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT
on Facebook & Twitter
on Facebook & Twitter
 Follow IBJ's Tweets on these topics: |
||
| @IBJNews | @Propertylines | @IBJTheScore |
| @IBJArts | @IBJHealthcare | @IBJDining |
| @IBJLists | @IBJSmallbiz | |
-
Many serial killer types and psychopaths work as lowly bureaucrats, just waiting to impose their wrath on a powerless person, child, or pet. Don't forget, the BTK killer was a dog catcher.
-
If a television station wants to improve viewership, get rid of the local blackout. I was born by the brickyard, and have attended 15 or more races. I have children now, I won't attend unless circumstances are perfect. As those with growing families know, they never are. I'm always impressed that upwards of 250,000 people attend the 500. However, as a growing, or, more apt, sprawling city, Indianapolis and its immediate suburbs count almost 2.2 million. Show the race live, let the venue get a kick-back on revenues, and open-wheel racing might have a fighting chance to be relevant again. Just in time for those tax-payer lights to make sense.
-
John Moore, I too have had the same issue recently. A property next to my house was on the Land Bank and I was interested in purchasing. When I tried to contact Reggie, I got back emails that had nothing to do with what I asked about. Actually my latest response from him was on this past Friday. I had asked about how to buy the property and if it was still available. His response to me was to contact the mayor's office to get the schedule of his appearances. (???) Hopefully the city is able to do something to fix what this guy has done, it would be nice if they would take the properties back and sell them properly so land owners like me and you mother would have a fair chance.
-
I too work in the industry, with over 25 years of experience and your political spin has probably nothing to do with any rebranding. "Let's dress it up" would have nothing to do with the government "telling us how and what to eat." Give it a political rest. And being a producer for a radio show doesn't mean you've been involved in advertising and branding for 30 years.
-
Ms. Morris did not understand the ways of the business world, otherwise, like the IMS, she could have petitioned the State Legislature for a handout of State Funds for her charity work. Ms. Morris should consider becoming a state lobbyist for Lemonade Stand Operators.
ADVERTISEMENT
Back to TopCopyright © All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.
Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing.
Additional Hosting & Delivery by
IBJ Conversations
11 Comments
Add Comment
You lived in a "piece of crap" house at 7830 Pineview in Indy until your "timely purchases" in Brightpoint in a group with Tim Durham. And where did the money to purchase Brightpoint come from? Oh yeah, Tim bought it for you! Remember? Remember how you helped Tim post on the Yahoo Brightpoint message boards all the time? I remember, in fact all those messages I printed out, and saved for the day you guys finally got caught, those are all in the Philadelphia office of the SEC who is investigating the insider trading angle of this mess. Why were you posting on the Brightpoint boards all the time? You weren't buying stock in Lilly or Cummins or anyone but Brightpoint--at the very time bondholders were fleeing in anticipation of bankruptcy. But, you knew they weren't going bankrupt, didn't you Henri. Not bad for a guy who didn't even understand a p/e and hadn't owned any stock except Penske--you remember that, don't you, wasn't Penske one of your customers?
Then, suddenly, you had a mansion at Geist! Then, a second waterfront mansion at Geist! Then, millions to blow on your Geist restaurant! You were important!
And, suddenly, you just happened to know to tinmely buy Cellstar stock right before Brightpoint bought them! And you made lots of money again!
Money you have never been able to manage. In fact you started gambling with the boys, didn't you? Remember when you were arrested in Vegas for failure to pay markers? Oh, who bailed you out? Tim Durham! With money that came from elderly Fair Finance victims! Remember? How about those IRS bills? With money from Tim Durham that came from elderly Fair Finance victims! In fact, the original source of all the money to purchase Brightpoint came from elderly Fair Finance victims, didn't it Henri?
You would be wise to strike a deal for immunity and open your mouth because charges ARE coming for Tim and several of his cohorts and since you knew darned well how Tim was getting his money the premise could be made you have repeatedly been in receipt of stolen goods.
The premise could be made that you are part of a criminal raqueteering group whose success came only at the expense of the life savings of all those Ohio people and insider trading on two stocks both of which you were tipped off on.
Gosh, how stupid of you not to take your profits and shut up. But, like Tim you could not stand people not thinking you were something big. Tim, King of the Dorks.
As a 30 year veteran of F&B ops at the Crossing and Downtown, I say that's absurd rent for that 'hidden' location!