An OTBKB reader and a "frequent" contributor to Bob Guskind's Gowanus Lounge wrote in to say that my story about tini wine bar may have contained a tiny (or not so tiny) inaccuracy. The writer suggests that it is not "greedy landlord syndrome" that is responsible for tini's relocation. According to the writer, tini never had a lease on the space in question:
few others) are being had by reprinting the Tini Wine Bar "greedy
landlord" story without research. Tini has never had a lease on the
space in question, they were subletters. And they allegedly owe the
party they sublet from a good deal of money. Hence, the actual landlord
will not extend them a lease.
The actual landlord, who isn't
greedy at all, has a long history with the lease-holder, dating back to
well before Tini existed. Given the alleged debt, the landlord was
unwilling to offer Tini their own lease unless the current lease-holder
approved. Tini management has since been on a "greedy landlord"
campaign, angry that the landlord won't give them a lease on the space.
You can do what you want with this story, obviously, but I feel
it's only fair to your own credibility to consider the merits of
implicating a landlord who actually would prefer Tini stay where it is
as greedy. Given the economic circumstances, it's kind of a bad time to
be greedy, and the landlord knows this.
.
Monica:
1) I clearly refer to this as an alleged debt and offer no opinion about the merits of the debt claim – although I do know whose side I would choose if forced to. I am merely stating that the landlord in question is unwilling to offer a lease while the debt claim remains open, and stating that the landlord has no stake in the resolution of the debt claim. You have been trying to act as though your rent has been jacked up by a greedy landlord, and this is very simply not the case.
2) The axe to grind is yours – you started in with the “greedy landlord” crap, which was unwarranted and inaccurate. I will never understand why you felt the need to engage in all the name calling.
3) This is a complicated situation in which the landlord, you, and your lease-holder all suffer because of this dispute. However, regardless of resolution, THE LANDLORD DOES NOT BENEFIT by you moving. Thus the landlord cannot be greedy. Get it?
4) I had no interest in pursuing this until you started in with the “greedy landlord” BS. However, now that I have, it is contingent upon me to provide accuracy for my claims. I have offered this blog, and anybody else who wants it, documentation of my claims. If you continue to attack my credibility, I will be happy to take those documents and post them on-line myself for that little, tiny, part of the world that gives a crap to review and judge.
5) My motivation through most of this has not been to paint you or your establishment in a bad light. It has been to warn bloggers that you are being considerably less than forthright when you attribute your move to a greedy landlord. I personally respect the demands and the service that neighborhood blogs provide, and felt it was only fair to warn them that your mass email was grossly inaccurate.
6) Finally, nobody involved in this wishes you or your establishment ill. Again, I don’t understand why the name-calling had to begin, but I, like most, are sorry you are moving and wish you the best in your new location.
Your “anonymous” source has his facts completely wrong.
Please note that your source is neither our landlord, nor sub landlord.
Please check facts before spreading negative harmful rumors.
Your source has be writing to anyone who will listen for quite sometime, and although he has NO standing or involvement, clearly he is trying to grind a personal ax.
For the record, Tini does not owe either of our landlords any money, and has never made a late payment to either, which if you would like to check with our sub landlord, she would confirm.
Monica Byrne
Tini Wine Bar