10/17/2019
Talk a stand and speak out on this matter. What they are doing to Hamburger Mary’s is cruel and completely unjust!
Good morning, friends.
I want to share with you some issues we are having with our landlord Mason Capital, and property management Lincoln Property Company. The purpose of this message is to shine a light on how big business can have a complete disregard for a tenant's rights without an ounce of concern. You may have heard that there are a few projects going on around us. A new tower at the corner of South and Garland which is near completion, a second tower which will be constructed where the ballroom now sits, and also a Food Hall which will encompass the old Buda space and into the common area inside the Bumby arcade. We have dealt with construction in the past and have had major operational issues (dining room shaking, alarms going off, and customers up and leaving) but I will deal with that in another message.
While the approvals for the Food Hall were being completed in the spring we were approached by Lincoln Properties about buying out our lease and allowing us to move to a new location.Therefore, our focus was not on the Food Hall at that time. We did come to a framework for an agreement for the lease buyout in the summer but that was cancelled by the landlord in August without specific reasoning.
The plans for the Food Hall were completed for this project and approved through the city. We were never consulted or included in any meetings on this project. What the landlord and architects Baker Barrios Architects, Inc. failed to tell the city was that this space on the east side of our building is part of our lease agreement signed in 2007 to be used for additional patio seating as needed. We also have rights to a logo'd awning on that same side. It also allow us access for shipping/receiving as well as access to provide maintenance to our HVAC and hood systems. Demolition has already begun on the inside of the building. Once this started our ADA access was taken away due to the closing of the front entrance of the arcade . Our only access to bring a wheelchair into the dining room is through our kitchen which is ridiculous. We are now non-compliant with ADA rules. Were the talks for a lease buyout a distraction to keep us from seeing that they were violating out lease agreement with the Food Hall? Quite possibly.
Our requests to meet with the landlord or property management team have gone unanswered. Yesterday, Mike and I went before the City Planning Board to express our concerns. We were told this was a Landlord/Tenant issue. The Executive VP of Lincoln Properties spoke after we did, and said that there are always going to be people who get hurt when these buildings are constructed.Really? That's the best you got? We have worked very hard over the last 11 1/2 years (some of them tough) to continue to serve the Orlando community. We are thrilled with new businesses coming downtown as this will bring new business to us as well. However, we can't sit back and allow these companies to roll over us without fighting back. If we can't get their attention at a City Planning Board, we will toss it out to the public and allow them to see how these companies operate. Share this if you would like and we so appreciate you all. John and Mike
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