Allegations of violent, loud and foul-mouthed, pole-dancing customers who drink and urinate in the parking lot are among the reasons cited by the owners of a George Town plaza seeking to evict a bar from the complex.
The bar in question is Vine and Tap, whose initial owners entered into a five-year lease agreement with Cayman Technology Centre on 1 Aug. 2020.
According to a writ filed with the Grand Court, three years into the lease there was a change in the ownership of the bar which resulted in a change in its clientele.
“[T]he Defendant, its guests, patrons and licensees have, in the opinion of the Plaintiff acting reasonably, become a source of nuisance, annoyance and danger interfering with the quiet use of the Premises and quiet use of the adjoining and neighbouring premises,” states the writ.
The six-page lawsuit sets out 15 complaints against Vine and Tap, some of which include allegations that the bar’s customers discard used condoms and cigarette butts on the premises, play loud music from car sound systems and make unwarranted advances to female staff and clients of other tenants, resulting in separate complaints.
“The Defendant is the source of and responsible for the nuisance, annoyance and danger it is attracting to the Premises… the neighbouring premises and Cayman Technology Centre are now suffering the stigma that comes with the nuisance, annoyance and danger that the Defendant is permitting, suffering to be done and attracting to the Premises and the vicinity, with people commenting adversely on social media and being put off from coming and spending time in the business park,” claim the property owners.
In addition to the alleged anti-social behaviour, Cayman Technology Centre also claims a shooting occurred at the complex on 23 Dec., resulting in damage to property and to a person in the vicinity.
According to the writ, the lease required each tenant, together with the Cayman Technology Centre, to take out a $1 million insurance policy for any injuries/accidents or damages that may occur in their premises or reserved parking spaces. However, the writ alleges Vine and Tap failed to take out that insurance policy, resulting in a breach of contract.
‘Million dollar ransom’
In the writ, which was filed on 8 April, the complex owners say they served an eviction notice on the bar’s owners 15 Jan., requiring them to vacate the premises by 29 Feb.
However, the defendants are said to have refused to comply.
“Instead of acting responsibly, in response to the Plaintiff’s termination and forfeiture of the Lease, the Defendant has sought to hold the Plaintiff to ransom and asserted that it (the Defendant) will not vacate unless and until the Plaintiff gives it (the Defendant) CI$1.2million,” states the writ.
A spokesperson for Vine and Tap told the Cayman Compass they would first consult their attorney before making a public statement but had not done so by press time.
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