Popular SMC Restaurant Faces Eviction Due To Unpaid Rent: Report

HALF MOON BAY, CA — A restaurant in Half Moon Bay said they were forced to close after the San Mateo County Harbor District, served an eviction notice demanding over $155,000 in unpaid rent, according to a report by SFGATE.

Ketch Harbor Pub's co-owner Mishelle Westendorf announced the closure on Instagram, calling the eviction an act of greed from the SMCHD. They claim the district refused to lower their $20,500 monthly rent to $12,500 as their husband and co-owner, David, battles Stage 4 terminal cancer.

“After ten months of chemo, radiation, countless needles in an attempt to fight stage four terminal cancer, the San Mateo County Harbor Commission has disregarded David’s ADA status and opted instead for greed. In these ten months, they have not offered even a single accommodation afforded by the law,” the Instagram post stated. “Furthermore, the rent reduction we’ve requested has turned into an eviction, giving us three days to get out.”

SFGATE reported that the Westendorfs made partial rent payments in September and October but have not paid since. The couple informed the commission that without a rent reduction, they would be forced to close Ketch Harbor Pub, along with their other Johnson Pier businesses, Pelagic Cantina and the Fish Market.

The Westendorfs got a three-day pay-or-quit notice last Thursday. On Saturday, the eviction notice was found taped to the storefront.

“We invested over $1M removing black rot, rat infestation, mold, etc, rebuilt entire walk-in refrigerators. We made fireplace covered outdoor seating a reality in our foggy town. Most importantly we have 50 employees whose lives are at stake,” the Instagram post stated. “We’ve done everything we could to keep the integrity of this business. We thank the community members that helped us build it out. David began a clinical trial at Stanford, testing a new drug targeting his cancer genes. We aim to fight this Harbor situation with as much vigor as David’s fighting cancer. “

Discussions with the SMCHD for a rent reduction began soon after David's cancer diagnosis, but Mishelle said the board would not respond to letters and instead requested in-person or Zoom meetings, which SFGATE reported David was too sick to attend until August.

Read the full story at SFGATE.