Stock photo by Tim Mossholder for Unsplash
Note: Renee Umsted did most of the reporting for this item.
The Advocate reported this week about the closing of two East Dallas restaurants — Mai’s and Darkoo’s Chicken Shack on Bryan Street. The closures, according to managing partner at property manager Alpine Start Development David Eitches, are due to nonpayment of rent in full. Please read that article, because it’s the other side of the following.
Darkoo’s owner Donny Sirisavath, renowned chef, said via a note on the building, that he made rent on time every month.
Speaking with the Advocate, he reiterated that and added that in the most recent negotiations between his accountant and Eitches landed on a figure of $8k to get the keys back.
Eitches, whose company took over the land five years ago, says Sirisavath owes $17k in property and insurance reimbursements as well as $2k in fees for common area amenities.
Sirisavath says he requested an itemized report, which he never received.
He adds, “we’ve been paying rent for the past three years and never got any notification that we’re late.”
“We paid the increase of rent from 2021 to 2022,” he says. “Still, this is an ongoing battle for the past two years now.”
Sirisavath says he knows there are things he doesn’t understand, and that language might be a barrier to understanding all of the legalities.
The bottom line right now is that whether he has to pay $8k or $19k to reopen, Sirisavath thinks it’s undoable.
“This isn’t only my income,” he says. “This is my livelihood.”
Eitches and Sirisavath have different stories about what is happening with Mai’s. Sirisavath says he’s been in touch with Mai’s owners but that they are working with lawyers and do not wish to speak on record. Eitches told the Advocate that Mai’s couldn’t make it work and will not re-open.
