Power & Light seeks to evict restaurant & bar for back rent..and other P&L updates

Irish eyes aren’t smiling at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in the Power & Light District.

The 10,000-square-foot restaurant and bar opened at 170 E. 14th St. in March 2008, one of the first restaurants to open in the district.

But its landlord filed suit earlier this month, saying it owes $608,856 in back rent and other charges and is now in breach of its lease.

The landlord is seeking an eviction and possession of the premises.

Officials with Ragland Road had no comment.

According to the suit, Raglan Road signed a 10 year lease in September 2007 and agreed to pay $244,793.50 annually for the first year, increasing over the length of the lease, as well as five percent of gross sales in excess of $5 million, a security deposit equal to a year’s rent and other payments.

That works out to more than $49,000 a month.

Raglan Road is an upscale Irish venue. The owners spent several million dollars on the space, bringing in two specially built bars that were handcrafted in Ireland from salvaged antique Irish pub materials, along with Irish produced furniture and carpets, and even Irish craftsmen to assemble the operation.

Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon created the menu of made-from-scratch items, including fish and chips, sausages, lobster club and shepherd's pie.

Irish dancers and musicians also perform there.

"Unfortunately, Raglan Road hasn’t lived up to its obligations pursuant to the lease and we are pursuing our rights," said Nick Benjamin, executive director of the district.

Raglan Road also has a location in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Meanwhile, K.C. Hopps Ltd. - owner and operator of 12 restaurant/bars under such names as the 75th Street Brewery, Barley’s Brewhaus, Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Los Cabos, O’Dowd’s Little Dublin, 810 Zones, Wild Bill’s Legendary Steakhouse & Saloon – says it wants to open a new, unnamed concept in the Power & Light District.

K.C. Hopps officials would not confirm the location they are in negotiations for.

In other Power & Light District news, the landlords also are negotiating with a new tenant to take over the now closed Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que at 131 E. 14th St.

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