Kapnos Taverna’s College Park Landlord Is Suing Mike Isabella Over Unpaid Rent

Just after breaking the news today that chef Mike Isabella’s Tysons Galleria food hall Isabella Eatery is indeed closing, Washingtonian now reports that there are unpaid rent issues with another of the Top Chef alum’s restaurants.

The Hotel at the University of Maryland, operated by Southern Management Corporation, reportedly filed a complaint on May 15 in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. The complaint claims that Isabella allegedly owes $63,566.92 in unpaid rent for January through April for Kapnos Taverna, which is located across the street from the main entrance to the University of Maryland campus. The landlord claims that they’d made “approximately 20 separate attempts” to serve Isabella with a court summons before serving him on July 31.

Isabella is reportedly working on a “payment plan” with the landlord to sort out unpaid rent issues at Kapnos Taverna, a source tells Eater, adding the year-old location is continuing to operate as normal. The first day of the nearby college’s fall semester starts on Monday, August 27.

This isn’t the only legal skirmish between Isabella and landlords. There are other lawsuits over unpaid rent and penalties at the now-closed Mosaic District’s Requin and Graffiato.

Isabella, who settled the lawsuit alleging sexual harassment at his restaurants for an undisclosed sum earlier this spring, told the publication that the restaurant is not closed and they are just having a slow summer. He used similar language with Washingtonian to deny earlier this month that Isabella Eatery was closing. Calls to the restaurant in College Park today went unanswered.

“Did we plan on having a slow summer? Yeah. But I’m not shutting down. We’re in the busy season now,” he told Washingtonian about the College Park Kapnos Taverna’s future. “We’re in negotiations. I hope everything is going to be fine. You know what makes everyone smile a little more? Seeing revenue. When you give people money they won’t bother you. Hopefully come Monday, we’ll have a good week.”

• Another Landlord Is Suing Mike Isabella [Washingtonian]
• Isabella Eatery Is Closing Today [Updated] [EDC]
• Mike Isabella on His Food Hall: ‘We’re Not Closing, It’s Been a Slow Summer’ [EDC]
• Restaurateur Mike Isabella’s Second Kapnos Taverna Arrives September 25, Plus More Intel [EDC]
• Landlord Sues Mike Isabella for $715,000 in Back Rent and Fees [EDC]
• Mike Isabella’s First Restaurant, Graffiato, Is Closed [EDC]