Food Emporium China Live Could Be at Risk of Eviction Due to a Dispute Over $4.2M in Back Rent
Plus, Delirama loses a ton of pastrami due to a multi-day power outage and more Bay Area food intel
China Live is in the midst of a landlord dispute that could force the multi-restaurant space to be evicted,San Francisco Business Times reports. A lawsuit filed in January by the building owner, an affiliate of Cypress Properties, claims China Live owes more than $4.2 million in unpaid rent stemming from 2017 to the end of 2022. China Live previously sued the building owner in 2021 for breach of contract, including “overcharging for maintenance, billing the tenant for more square footage than is actually usable, and interfering with the restaurant’s operations and ongoing future business discussions,” theTimes states. That case is still pending and seeks $25 million in damages.
Part of this stems from the fact that the building owner is three months behind on a $21 million loan taken out when refinancing the building back in 2018. The owner previously defaulted on the loan in May 2020 but worked out a repayment plan, only to default on, it again. Attorneys for the landlord told the Business Times the building owner “has not ruled out” an eviction if a deal can’t be found.
Storms derail Delirama’s pastrami ... for now
Last Tuesday’s stormsknocked out the power for a number of Bay Area residents and restaurants, but a multi-day outage wiped out all of Delirama’s inventory, including its number one product: 2,000 pounds of brisket. TheSan Francisco Chronicle reports this is a month’s worth of brisket, which owner Cash Caris estimates is worth about $100,000 in revenue. Included in the loss is potential damage to the new walk-in, which was still not working as of Friday, when the power finally came back on after four days. The brisket takes about 21 days to brine, plus smoking and steaming time, so the restaurant will not be serving pastrami for some time and started aGoFundMe to help with finances. For now, the restaurant shared on Instagram that it will be making sandwiches and burgers starting Thursday, March 30.
Introducing, Miyoko Schinner, lifestyle YouTube vlogger
Following news that Miyoko Schinner wasousted from her namesake company Miyoko’s Creamery — and the subsequentlawsuit filed against the founder by the company — comes news of a surprising pivot. TheSan Francisco Business Times has the scoop that Schinner is launching a video series titledThe Vegan Good Life with Miyoko, set to launch in April on her YouTube channel. It’ll be centered on vegan recipes.
Fans of tofu should really check out this block party
Tofu-centric deli Joodooboo is planning a block party, teaming up with local restaurant Daytrip for an event hosted at Oakland bar Friends and Family on Sunday, April 9. Tickets cost $65 each for two different events that day: a kid-friendly daytime party featuring bites by Joodooboo and Daytrip, and 21+ event with a DJ and welcome cocktail from Mommenpop. RSVPs can be madeonline.
Despite the precarious nature of operating a restaurant or bar, many places understand the importance of standing with Minnesota and fighting against ICE
Let’s go in on an ice cream shop together
It only took nine decades to get a full kitchen and a bigger food menu
Chefs Sean Massey, formerly of Morimoto Napa, and Diego Isunza Kahlo, formerly of Pujol, are slated for residency stints this winter
It’s a pretty damn good list
A slew of new labor-related laws, a plastic bag ban, new requirements for tortillas, and more for the Golden State