Dean & Deluca Sued For $21M At Now-Closed Meatpacking Cafe

MEATPACKING DISTRICT, NY — Dean & Deluca's short-lived cafe in the Meatpacking District is getting sued for millions of dollars for missed rent and other damages, according to a lawsuit filed this week.

Midtown Equities, the landlord, is suing the luxury grocer and its parent company Pace development for $21.4 million for late rent and backing out on a lease at its restaurant called Stage, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The landlord of the grocer's Meatpacking District cafe — which was open for just three months at Ninth Avenue and 13th Street — alleges the restaurant missed rent in June and July, according to the lawsuit.

Midtown Equities is suing for the rent, late fees, various work on the building prior to Dean & Deluca inking a lease, backing out of the lease and other fees totaling more than $21 million, the lawsuit says.

Some of the fees include more than $500,000 in late rent, more than $750,000 in mechanics' liens, $300,000 in legal fees, $9 million for breaking the lease, and $10.7 million sought from the guarantor — Pace Development's Sorapoj Techakraisri.

The multimillion dollar lawsuit comes as Dean & Deluca is dealing with serious financial troubles.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that the company has defaulted on federally mandated payments to employees, according to employees who told the Times their checks have been delayed.

Eater reported photos of the grocer's SoHo digs with near empty shelves of leftover La Croix, IPA and bottled water in a "post-apocalyptic" sight.

Commercial Observer first reported on the lawsuit.

Midtown Equities' lawyer Jerry Montag and Pace Development did not immediately respond to Patch for comment.