Popular restaurant sues landlord after eviction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A popular restaurant with locations all over Charlotte is now suing its former landlord after getting evicted.

The landlord claims Dean & Deluca officials owe more than $120,000 in payments and repossessed the SouthPark location.

The landlord of Phillips Place sent Dean & Deluca three notices within a week, warning that it was in default, according to the lawsuit.

Two of the notices warned the landlord may take control of the store then overnight on April 1, the lawsuit says Phillips Place did that and changed the locks.

Dean & Deluca officials said it had more than $780,000 worth of equipment and perishable food like seafood and meat inside.

They said the food was meant for two stores affiliated with the company Stonecrest Café and Tryon Café -- as well as for the public.

Dean & Deluca officials were denied access to it unless the company paid the rent, according to the lawsuit.

Phillips Place offered to send someone in to get the perishable food, while Dean & Deluca watched from outside and "could have no role in ensuring the safe or responsible handling of the valuable foodstuffs that were to be sold to the public," the lawsuit reads.

Dean & Deluca officials said all of its Charlotte locations are closing.

The closing caught customers off guard.

“When I went to get a glass of wine, then all of a sudden it was closed,” James Maness said.

Stonecrest Cafe was also forced to close because of the severe damage to its customer base and because Dean & Deluca couldn't get the food from the Phillips Place location to the café, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Dean &​​​​​​​ Deluca suffered lost profits, loss of goodwill and damage to its brand.

Channel 9 reached out to Phillips Place for comment but has not heard back.

Cox Media Group