Westport’s HopCat says ‘civil issues have been dismissed’ after landlord sues over rent

Just three years after HopCat opened a two-story bar and restaurant on Westport’s most prominent intersection, its landlord filed suit for back rent and possession of the space.

But the suit may be resolved this week.

In late January, Hood Westport LLC, Tholen Westport LLC, Lepe Westport LLC, Irving Westport LLC and CAD Managment LLC filed suit against Hopcat-Kansas City LLC and Barfly Ventures LLC for back rent and to take back the space at 401 Westport Road.

According to the lawsuit, the landlords said HopCat owed $86,995 in rent and other charges as of Jan. 7.

But on Tuesday, an attorney for the landlord said the lawsuit is being resolved and could be dismissed later this week.

In a statement, HopCat officials said: ”There is no back rent due for this location. The landlord has been paid in full and any potential civil issues have been dismissed.”

The Circuit Court of Jackson County’s website shows the last update for Jan. 28 with a hearing on the lawsuit scheduled for Feb. 20.

The Michigan-based HopCat, which currently has 17 locations, scouted the Kansas City area for a couple of years before settling on the Westport spot. CAD Management took the building — once a Starbucks — down to the basement and put up a new $2.5 million, 10,000-square-foot building with a rooftop deck.

It seats 300 people on the upper floors. The kitchen is in the basement.

Three months after opening, HopCat launched its first tiki bar, TikiCat, described as a 1960s-era Hawaiian living room, in the basement of the space.

This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 6:00 AM.