This is in response to the January 5, 2014 article in the Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch entitled “Gail Patrick's Cafe Owner Blames Landlord for Closure,” in order to set the record straight.
Mr. Patrick Filacchione, owner and executive chef of Gail Patrick’s Cafe hastily vacated the premises at and removed equipment from 31-35 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua during the final days of 2013 with no prior notice. He is still at this time, 4 months behind in rent payments owed. Further, he caused significant damage to the property by hastily removing the food prep equipment from the location.
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To say that “the building owner would not negotiate in good faith to renew (his) lease with more favorable terms” is utterly disingenuous. Most property owners typically start eviction proceedings after tenants fall 1-2 months behind in rent payments. He was 4 months in arrears and he was allowed to continue operating his business to try to turn it around. He continued to tell stories about how he was expecting to close on a business loan soon to make up his delinquent rent payments. Then lo and behold, he ran out on his responsibilities in the middle of the night. If anyone is the victim in this situation, it is the building owners.
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Mr Filacchione was offered the option to renegotiate his lease once his rent payments were up to date, when the lease came up for renewal in 2014. He was also offered the option of reducing the size of his store in return for reduced rent, which he declined to do.
I believe that by making such statements, Mr. Filacchione is just trying to rationalize his failure as a business owner.
