Jimmy's Corner landlord sells building to new developer mid-court fight | amNewYork

"As the scrappy Times Square dive bar Jimmy's Corner awaits a ruling in its fight against eviction in state court, its Durst Organization-affiliated landlord just closed a deal to sell the property off to another developer, property records show. The landlord sold the bar's three-story building to Ben-Josef Holdings for $5.4 million as part of a package of adjoining properties on the same block. It's so far unclear how this will affect the besieged bar's effort to hold on to its lease until at least 2029. But it appears as though the move comes as part of a move to consolidate the properties around the bar's building at 140 West 44th Street."

"Ben-Josef Holdings, a developer and investment firm focused on acquiring and developing mixed-use, residential, and hospitality projects, also purchased its neighboring building at 136 West 44th Street in the deal. Adam Glenn, who inherited the bar from his father and its late founder James Glenn, said he has no intention of dropping his lawsuit to stop the termination of Jimmy's lease until 2029. But the sale adds an element of uncertainty into the proceedings. A lot just depends on what this landlord chooses to do. My hope is that they want to work together and figure out a better resolution, Glenn said."

"Hopefully, they recognize that there is value to having Jimmy's Corner on the block. The lawsuit first came about because, in late 2023, the Durst Organization decided to sell the building and attempted to cancel the bar's lease through a death clause provision that was triggered by the passing of Glenn's father. Adam Glenn filed the lawsuit last year to stop the landlord's invocation of the death clause, which was tied to racial discrimination against James Glenn, who was Black, and other Black patrons of the bar. The landlord argued that the discrimination claims arising from the death clause, which was first signed in 2010, are barred by the statute of limitations."

Jimmy’s Corner in Times Square is awaiting a state-court ruling on its eviction fight after its Durst Organization-affiliated landlord sold the three-story building at 140 West 44th Street for $5.4 million to Ben-Josef Holdings. The sale was part of a package that included adjoining properties, and Ben-Josef Holdings also bought the neighboring building at 136 West 44th Street. The bar’s owner, Adam Glenn, said he will not drop the lawsuit aimed at stopping termination of the lease until at least 2029, though the sale introduces uncertainty about how the new owner will act. The dispute began when the landlord attempted to cancel the lease using a death clause after Glenn’s father died, tied to alleged racial discrimination against Black patrons. The landlord argued the discrimination claims are barred by the statute of limitations.

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