"After the longest-operating cafe in L.A. County announced in late December that it would shut down after 139 years, customers of the Original Saugus Cafe began buying up its branded hats, T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise. When the merch sold out, some took to filching from the tables: glassware, salt and pepper shakers, and even utensils. To Jessie Mercado, 31, and her father, Alfredo - who has owned the beloved cafe in Santa Clarita for 30 years - it was amusing and sweet that many held the establishment so close to their hearts that they wanted to take pieces of it home with them."
"But a property manager who took over handling their lease in recent months saw it differently. He left an angry voicemail for her 59-year-old father, Alfredo - reviewed by The Times, telling him to "get the Godd- s- back," or he would sue. Customers of the Original Saugus Cafe didn't have long to mourn the loss of the landmark. The restaurant, which closed on Jan. 4, has already reopened under new management."
"For decades, Mercado's father said he had a friendly relationship and verbal lease agreement with the property owner, Hank Arklin Sr., a former state Assembly member who owned several commercial spaces in the area. But difficulties arose after Arklin died at the age of 97 in August, the Mercados said, and they began dealing with Larry Goodman, who handles properties on behalf of the Arklin family's company, North Valley Construction."
Customers rushed to buy branded hats, T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise when the 139-year-old Original Saugus Cafe announced closure. When merchandise sold out, some patrons removed glassware, salt and pepper shakers and utensils from tables. Owner Alfredo Mercado and his daughter Jessie found those gestures touching. A new property manager left an angry voicemail demanding returns and threatening legal action. The restaurant closed Jan. 4 and has since reopened under new management. The Mercados filed a lawsuit alleging they were pushed out after longtime owner Hank Arklin Sr.'s death and that property representatives ignored their legal claims to the business and equipment.
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]