LAKEPORT >> An eviction notice from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was posted Thursday on the doors of the Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center stating that the premises must be vacated by April 22.
One issue in the closure is the matter of equipment ownership. Co-owners John and Charles Richardson, purchased some of the buildings equipment from Roland Barnes, the former owner of the facility, while others were purchased at auctions. However, property owner Matt Rivera claims anything purchased from Barnes belongs to him, citing an agreement with Charles from March of 2011 leaving all chattel in his possession.
Chattel is a movable article of personal property.
The eviction notice comes nearly two week after patrons of Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center were greeted with a letter posted to the facility’s door on April 5, instead of the sound of crashing bowling pins or the din of an arcade.
When the business closed its doors the night of April 4, they would not be opened to the public again.
“We have been attempting to negotiate a long-term lease since we first met our new landlord in 2011 and have continued to do so … to no avail,” John stated in the letter.
For five years, Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center has been on a month-to-month lease, first with the prior landlord and then with Riveras, who took over six months later.
John said that the closure is the result of a breakdown in lease negotiations and came without notice. Facility management had announced they were in the process of hiring staff. And on March 13 they had hosted the Lake County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the renovation of Charley’s Club House Bar and Grill, which is located inside the center.
However, Riveras said an a number of issues preceded the business closing, starting back when he took over the property in 2011 after a three-and-a-half year long lawsuit with the city regarding the development of the property.
During that time, Riveras said that Barnes “struck a deal” with the Richardsons to take over the business.
“Barnes never had legal right to sell the property to anyone, what he did have the right to sell was the business opportunity,” Riveras said.
Additionally, Riveras said he was not informed that Barnes was no longer a tenant and that the Richardsons were until after everything was said and done.
“They were kind of squatters,” Riveras said. “They had no right to be there, but they assumed the right to be there.”
The amount of rent at the time was $4,000 each month. In September of 2011, the rent was raised to $6,000 each month, with plans to increase each year.
According to Riveras, an agreement was made between himself and Charles “on a handshake” regarding the chattel, to progressively increase the rent amount and to stay on a month-to-month lease.
“It didn’t make sense to give them a five-year lease when they said they weren’t sure they could pull it off,” Riveras explained. “The bowling alley had grown three times in revenue than it was when Roland had it, but they said they couldn’t make scheduled increases.”
According to Riveras, notice was given to comply with the rent increase, which was raised to $8,000 as of Jan. 1.
John Richardson said that they would have been more than willing to pay the increasing rent, but needed the assurance of a long-term lease, which he said had been proposed to Riveras multiple times throughout the years. The most recent of which was on March 23.
As for the future of the business, Richardson said “it isn’t over. We’re just moving to a different location.’
The new location has not been established yet, but the Richardsons have received multiple offers.
“We have several options out there,” John Richardson added.
Anyone who purchased a season pass from www.kidsbowlfree.com, should have automatically gotten a refund, Richardson said. However, if a refund has not been received, Richardson said to call the center’s main number at 263-4828, which will remain in operation. As for anyone who had personal property stored in a locker, Richardson reported that most items have been returned, but anyone who hasn’t picked up their items can call the center’s main number.
Potential uses for the property have been discussed in the past.
In July of last year, Riveras discussed conceptual plans with the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee.
Staying the course with the shopping center’s use, as well as potentially building a hotel and wine-related facility, were some such plans.
Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said he and Riveras met a few months ago to discuss conceptual plans for the shopping center, but that “nothing certainly was written in stone.”
“He was just sort of exploring what would be needed,” Ingram said.
Riveras said that while “the wine village concept is still a possibility” he would be happy to talk “if someone wants to put a bowling alley in there … or any other use.”
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
