Guest on July 05, 2010, at 01:38AM – #8

While many details may need to be worked out,it appears that on the facts as we know them, the management at The Must was not given notice about the competing lease for the premises. Even if the new ownership wished to terminate the lease for The Must, appropriate notice is required in order to protect due process rights.

Based on the fact that management was up until yesterday promising to re-open by the 7th, and has lease documents to the property, it would appear that the owners of The Must were not aware of the termination of their lease.

When deciding to live in downtown Los Angeles, it was the communal fabric of the historic core that attracted me there as opposed to other gentrifying neighborhoods in the area. As members of this community I believe that it is imperative that we support the institutions that have made the neighborhood as connected and integrated as it has become.

To this extent, if it becomes clear in the days ahead that management at The Must was not aware of the termination or invalidation of their lease before the bar was ransacked, I will not be patronizing the new JP Lounge and would encourage others to do the same. Despite Rico's contentions to the contrary "amazing people" do not clear out tenants without notice in the middle of the night. Once again, only time will tell with facts of this situation and all responses should be geared accordingly.

If this truly is the end of The Must at this location, I sincerely wish the best to management and would hope that they could secure another lease in the neighborhood, perhaps even in the yet unused Rowan restaurant space.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:41AM – #13

they're going to jail....stealing is not legal. Even if it was a legal termination of their lease, (which by the sound of things it wasn't) you're required by law to give a thirty day notice and let the previous tenant remove their things. They didn't. they admit openly that they didn't. They snuck in at 2:30 in the morning (admittedly) changed the locks (admittedly) removed everything THE MUST owned (admittedly) and think that they're just gonna be fine???? Really??? Someone please tell me how this is possible?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:27AM – #15

Poster: "I just checked with the police: the watch commander said no police report was filed because a crime was not committed."

I suggest there is a difference between being legally in your rights and making bad choices or even unfair decisions. As another poster said before, "we all loose". Sad.

The LAPD to date has not suggested nor said any crime had been commited after a review of owner's documents. According to the LAPD the Must's furinture etc is in storage awaiting the owners. Looks like someone did not have a lawyer look at their contract. Heads up, you sign a contract you're stuck with the details.

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:49AM – #19

Hi NAncy:

You may indeed be correct. It was a speculation on my part as regards to entering into potentially ornerous contract/leases. I am sure neither you nor I would enter into a lease etc without carefully checking each line for the manytimes interesting legal possibilities.

I am quoting posters who say they spoke with he police. I have not spoken directly to the police for clarifacation. Thanks, Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:05AM – #20

Contact: Carol Burke Press Release For Immediate Release July 3, 2010, Los Angeles, CA – Weeneez, LLC today announces the sale that changes ownership of its restaurant operations in downtown Los Angeles, California. Majority owner Weeneez, lessee of the premises at which The Must Wine bar also operated, concluded the sell with an unidentified third party after negotiations between Weeneez and The Must Wine Bar were unsuccessful.
Weeneez and R City have entered arbitration to resolve their mutual legal claims.

The dispute underlying the Weeneez partnership breakup had been brewing for nearly a year. “Disputes between business partners is not uncommon. They often unfold like the breakup of a long term relationship—with both sides angrily pointing fingers at the other” says Cole Stuart, attorney for Weeneez, LLC. “However, in this situation it was increasingly clear that the partners were not able to co-exist in a safe environment,” says Stuart.

Weeneez notified The Must of an intended move-out by letter to their attorney dated July 1, 2010. The move-out occurred July 3. Notices were posted on the doors stating where the R City property was being stored.

An early report by a media news outlet that a “robbery” occurred at the premises was inaccurate and was quickly retracted after its fact-checking process was challenged.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:47AM – #27

Howie,

The proof is in the pudding. Though there was no clear "robbery" (yet), it has been proven that Julie Rico pulled some shady crap.... I guess my previous posts on her character were not as unwarranted as you suggested!

Not to mentione that she sold her business to someone who is basically doing the same exact thing as The Must and "Weeneez can still exist because J.P. Lounge wants to keep Weeneez." Are you kidding????? This was beyond planned, from the early morning "raid" to the new business owner who just happens to want to keep Weeneez?? How much do you want to bet the "unamed third party" is a great friend of Julie Rico and who wants to bet she sold it for a song so she could simply regain control of the situation?

If I took over the lease, I would kick Weeneez out as my first order of business so I could have the corner space, and she wants us to believe that the new owner LIKES the Weeneez concept?? Even the name is a joke as is the food and the non-existant hours of operation..... Julie Rico and this new "unamed third party" will NOT get any support from this community....

Where is the Security Building on all of this??? How is it possible that someone can change the lease without contacting them??? It seems that this may be something to look into. How solid is the lease for the Security Building and is this current action of selling the business nullify their lease agreement?

And someone posted about the liquor liscense.

Bottom line, this is so low..... basically stealing someone's built business by putting the exact thing in after you forced them out????

Defend that, Howie.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:01AM – #29

oh, Howie, now the stolen reservation book makes even more sense. not only did they have to steal the business, but they had to steal the clients too......

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:02AM – #30

Dear Writer #27

You must be confusing my posts with someone else. I have never "defended" anyone party to this Must / Wheenez situation. I have simply stated two important laws. That in no way clears anyone of anything legally nor morally, if indeed wrong has been done. I believe the noticed on this page it said they are in arbitration. So it will all come out. As to the morality of the move-out etc, I leave that to each person to decide , if they are so inclined. And BTW any differing views should be welcomed. We all have our own take on things, it's called "Community". Just like in family there are those that the "Group" likes, and some less so, I've been here 10 years, they come, they go, in favor, out of favor. But let's encourage a free diaologue and a welcome atmosphere to do such.

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:08AM – #31

Jealousy kills.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:18AM – #32

well played

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:31AM – #34

You need to lookout for your own rights. Before signing any agreement/partnership/lease/document/credit card agreements read everything carefully and also have a lawyer read any agreement. It's amazing how many terms and specifacation etc may be in a lease or partnership agreement. Signing means you have read and agree to all the terms.Once you sign there very little wiggle room. Tough lesson perhaps. Sad. Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:31AM – #35

If all of this IS indeed legal, it should be public record who the new owner of the space is.... JP Lounge is scheduled to open as of August, right? This means that they would have had to file fictitious business name, file for tax status, switched to the rightful owner of Weeneez, LLC, have his/her name on the lease, amongst other things.

It would seem that someone could make some phone calls to the respective state departments and get this information. I, for one, would LOVE to know who the current owner of "JP Lounge" is. I think we would all like to know who would enter into a business on these pretenses.

I think Blogdowntown should do some digging to find out who these people are. Please and thank you.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:43AM – #38

Howie, for someone who likes to remain vague you certainly seem to have it figured out (once again) that The Must was negligent in reading a contract or lease agreement. You keep saying your not pointing fingers, but post after post, you keep implying that The Must is in the wrong here. For someone who keeps saying we shouldn't make assumptions, you are continuing to do so. How can you have lived here "10 years" and not take into consideration the character of Ms. Rico?? You must have gotten to know her these last 10 years at some point, right?? Or do you just not frequent that part of town? Have you NEVER heard of her before this??

If you know nothing of the lease, and you know no "first hand knowledge" of the incident- why do you keep commenting on it with your opinions, while scolding others for doing the same? I am all for hearing your side of things, and your opinions as part of the "community" are greatly appreciated, but you cannot pick and choose when it is okay to bypass the rules of engagement that you keep trying to shove down our throats.

If you want to have an opinion, that's awesome, and I for one want to hear it. I DO NOT want to hear your backbeddling while telling us all not to judge a book by it's cover, or not to jump to conclusions, while your doing it all along.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:50AM – #40

Ciscustop: Good try, but untrue. Stating the law of Presumed Innocence seems by some as a threat. IT'sz the law. And of course in a legal matter you should not jusge a book by it's cover. As to the lease etc my warning is beware what you sign. Pretty sound advice to me.

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:56AM – #41

PS TO #38 "the rules engagement that you keep trying to shove down our throats." It's called the law. Sorry it seems to be an issue with a number of people. But the message bearer seems to have run into some trouble at the gates of Camlot. The law is the law. And I am not defending anyone. Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:00AM – #43

I agree with Nancy that the best way to understand this situation is to look up the term "Borderline Personality Disorder". Julie Rico has a tendency to create these types of dramas. She used to post long-winded wild rants on the old newdowntown Yahoo group about people who were out to get her and her brilliant plan to marry hot dogs and art.

She is clearly jealous that 'The Must' has succeeded where she has failed miserably. This is about a bitter and paranoid woman with a personality disorder lashing out. Unfortunately, she also happens to be very smart and knows what she's doing on the legal side.

The best thing for downtown would have been to send her to jail. This is a very sad situation and anyone who feels a stake in Dowtown should rally around 'The Must' and boycott any business Ms. Rico is associated with.

If the law won't punish her, the community must.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:02AM – #44

Exactly Nancy, My post was in regards to people/posters saying there was a Police Report and a crime that had been commited, and there was taped evidence. (Via Bert Greens Post) That is why I brought that topic in particular up as a post. Trying to stop a "rush to judgement".

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:05AM – #46

Howie,

Are you a politician? You keep ignoring most of what I put in my post or twisting it around so you can respond to it in your pompous way. The "rules of engagement" are your chastisement of us, saying we "shouldn't judge a book by it's cover" and we shouldn't jump to conclusions (over and over and over again) yet you do so in your posts.

Your post about lease agreements (the last one) wasn't "advice" it was finger pointing.... Are you Julie's new partner??? Nice how you haven't addressed you knowledge of her once.... you are incredibly telling. Or you MUST be a lawyer, right???

Go sit back on your "Hill".....

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:12AM – #47

Guest #46 I keep my posts devoid of personal attacks. I am pointing out law. Like it or not. There is no "finger pointing at all." And as to "knowing" Julie Rico: I have personally met her twice. I have never spoken to her on the telephone. I contributed to a fund raiser she was giving for a very ill artist from DT. Sooo, later gator

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:18AM – #48

"It's amazing how many terms and specifacation etc may be in a lease or partnership agreement. Signing means you have read and agree to all the terms.Once you sign there very little wiggle room. Tough lesson perhaps. Sad. Howie"

This last part, Howie, was that about the law? Seems like speculation.... even with your PHD you might notice that?? It would seem to me you are making a slight implication that someone (The Must) has a tough lesson to learn because maybe the didn't read their lease agreement.....

However subtle you may be, it is a backhanded finger point. Don't piss on my and tell me it's raining.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:24AM – #49

#48 I have already said what my intent was. I'm sorry I don't pass the Morals Cop inspection. YIPS!!

"pissing on and telling you its raining." Nice. Also I have not heard the "Backhanded finger point" in over 40 years. OMG that's good too.

Comedy Club Downtown next Sat. my treat. You're going on stage.

In the meantime we can both assume that what we say is what we mean. Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:26AM – #50

Wow, between Rico and Weenez on one corner and Islas and Amerland on the other, 6th and Spring is redefining the whole new downtown business plan.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:34AM – #51

Weenez is the most disgusting place in the neighborhood and hardly qualifies as a legitimate food service establishment. I am certain that the prime real estate on the ground floor/corner propery of the Rowan has not ever been leased is because no one wants to be across the street from that rat trap with the disgusting pink and yellow splat shit on the windows and serves the kind of food you'll find at a concession stand at the circus. The neighborhood doesn't support (and never supported) Weenez because no one likes it (except the homeless and extremely poor). Julie secured that lease when no one else would--however, the business district would now be so much better off without her or Weenez. She is a liability to the downtown community and Weenez is the grossest place on earth. She is furious over the success of the must and has become completely unhinged because of it. She is delusional to think the community would support any business associated with her.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:47AM – #52

FYI, there are better (and cheaper) hot dogs in the alley near Lost Souls Cafe. Walk a block over and see for yourself. I think it's called Alley Dogs or something. You want an amazing hot dog, go there and skip drama, poor interior and bad art. Weeneez is never open anyway, lol.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:47AM – #56

Everything Julie does is shady. End of story.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:07PM – #57

Bert time to get a grip of yourself. Your slander is showing. Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:33PM – #59

I actually saw them all planning The End of the World as We Know it! It was scary, all these codes and handshakes, total spy, like it was fake IDs and nightime attacks, that's why they always wear black in public and big Hollywood sunglasses, yeah that's it, yeah, say goodnight 99." Goodnight "Sam." America is safe once again! Whew, I though we were all goners!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:39PM – #60

Burglary is defined as entering a premise for the purpose of taking something that does not belong to you. Even shoplifting can be prosecuted as burglary.

So the issue here is one of permission versus adverse possession.

Did the occupant give up the ability to grant or deny admission to the premises? Not from the occupants' position.

Was the landlord legally allowed to enter and remove property? Tricky question.

The landlord's position seems to be that the occupant was in adverse possession and that allowed the landlord to enter and remove the "abandoned" property. That comes down to the issues of did the landlord notify the tenant of eviction, etc.

In the absence of prior notice that is shown as received, and the opportunity to vacate, the landlord in this case may have some damages owed to the tenant. Even if all the contract language favors the landlord, only a strained interpretation results in seizure without notification and that is what appears to have happened here.

I can see where this case may never result in a criminal prosecution, but to anyone familiar with the criminal justice system, that does not mean a crime has not occurred.

Certainly anyone contemplating doing business with the landlord will encounter residue of this debacle and adjust accordingly.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:47PM – #62

#60 Best I have read on this. Good read. And the distinctions you make are excellent. Thanks. Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:47PM – #63

It's all a shame. I hope The Must can find another, more sympathetic location and reopen. Unfortunately for whomever purchase the lease, they don't stand a snowballs chance in hell attracting local patronage.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:52PM – #65

Wow.

This bodes to be one juicy gay summer in DTLA! Bileous, feuding gay gallerists. A dumb, never-open hot dog restaurant with a dumb name and dumber art. Stimied lesbians with a ragingly successful wine bar that downtowners love... well, except the weenie vendor stage left.

A guy gets shot in the chest the same weekend Julie Rico shoots herself in her Weeneez. The phones must be ringing off the hook over at the BBB.

JP Lounge? Well, let's see, maybe I can put my DeVry University degree to work, at last.

My guess is the J is for Julie and the P is for _____.

Now I get why Gay Pride should officially come downtown. It's already here.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 12:57PM – #67

Julie, my question is, if it the must girls were so awful and you were in the right, why not be upfront? You brought this negative backlash on by looking shady in pulling off your takeover in the middle of the night on a weekend when the courts are closed for three days.

If you are correct in the history and details, you could have legally broken the lease. A PR savvy and honest businesswoman would go through official legal channels to take the lease back if in fact there was a breach of contract by actions and behavior. You should have had a process server go in and give notice and hired security to be on-site while the must owners removed their possessions.

I am reserving my judgment on who breached the contract, but not on you. The way you handled this was shady and I won't frequent your establishment. And I won't step foot in the new wine bar until I confirm that the new owner has nothing to do with you in the business.

best, Gigi D.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 01:01PM – #68

When some people are loosing an argument they go into character attack mode. Hummm. And Bert Green attacking a business? Where's the F'ing popcorn.

Mystery Theatre 4000: Downtown version 1,001

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 01:05PM – #69

You're right, Julie.

Your joint degrees from Le Cordon Bleu and the Royal Academy of Art have been wowing us for years now.

Guess you better go to another city.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 02:10PM – #77

Me again... I want to clarify that the words I write and have written are my opinion, and NOT a statement from the Must. This is what I feel and what I think personaly.

A. We have been inspected by the health department 4 times in the last year and a half and have NEVER been accused of wrong doing. The "B" that we recieved was because our fridge broke, we were NOT serving food out of it, and when we fixed it two days later our grade immediatly went back to an A.

B. I'm pretty sure if Rachel had pushed a cop she would've gotten in trouble. She didn't. And julie, I was there. you were not. You have been unreachable with the exception of you slandering the Must owners on this blog.

C. Julie Rico had absolutly NOTHING to do with the design of the space. That was 100 % Rachel. We had to tear walls down and redue everything! Anyone remember what it looked like before!?!? THAT was Julie's design.

D. Julie and her partner SID CARTER, had their attorney send a letter to our attorney via US MAIL on a Friday of a holiday weekend, knowing that it would not arrive until Saturday when the office is closed, and stole everything from the back of the Must that night. They came with a semi truck (proof on video tape...not that we need it Julie has admitted to taking it) they brought security gaurds, not police, to guard the door. They changed the locks and posted a note on the door telling the Must employees to apply for new work at "JP Lounge." Facts i'm writing. They also used bolt cutters to open all our wine cages (cause they didn't have keys...it didn't belong to them) They took all of our wine, beer, tables, chairs, fridge's, documents, our computer, and everything else. There was not a police officer present. They just took it and left. locked it in storage, and locked us out of the bar that we paid for.

E. Weenez CASHED our RENT CHECK FOR JULY TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY LOCKED US OUT. Fact

We are fairly sure that our property was damaged with how they removed it. Fridge's need to be un-plugged for hours before they're moved. Wine needs to stay at a certain temperature. NOTICE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN BEFORE ITEMS ARE TAKEN FROM ANYBODY. OWNERS OF THE ITEMS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO MOVE THEM THEMSELVES.

We are very confident that the legal system will handle this the right way, and we thank everyone for your support.Hope that was helpful.

We hope that karma is real, good will beat evil, and the court system will do what is right. If our disco ball TV were still in our possession and not stolen we would be playing star wars, and quoting Yoda with "May the force be with you." We hope it's with us...

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 02:12PM – #78

that post was from me...Casey irvine

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 02:46PM – #79

Julie,

Not only did you effect the lives and business of The Must, but also of all the employees who worked there, and depended on paychecks and tip money to pay bills and rent. These people are our neighbors, we see them everyday. Are you so cold that you had to punish everyone involved?? In this economy, jobs are hard to find; not only will The Must lose money, but all of the employees are now out of employment at the first of the month. How will they pay their bills and rent? Will you help them with that??

If you were well within your legal rights, then (as someone already suggested) didn't you do it up front, and with the blessing of the city, community, etc. If your allegations against The Must are true, where is your documentation?

Creeping in the dead of night, using tools to break into wine cages, and taking out the whole lot is not only shady.... I doubt it is legal. Giving someone a notice on July 1st (via mail they did not receive... ever hear of email??) and taking possession 2 days later hardly gives an established business time to even plan or figure anything out. Even if you are somehow miraculously in the right, how is 3 days sufficient amount of time to take down a business, inform employees?? What you did is despicable and I am not sure how you can sleep at night.

It is not as if you were trying to run a successful business. I made the mistake of coming to your place once, mainly because I was SHOCKED it was actually open for once. It took 25 minutes to get a hot dog, and it came from you! You served it to me.... how can you have been open since 2006 and you can't whip up a hot dog in less than 25 minutes??? Do not pretend to hide behind the guise of wanting to improve your business..... you are never open, your product is suspect and not time effective. You have failed at reading your customer base and failed to contribute, in a positive way, to the economy or downtown. The best thing you ever did was invite The Must to sub-lease from you. It probably helped pay your bills and keep yourself afloat. What sucker did you get this time to bank role your life? Or did you think that since The Must could do it that somehow you could effectively steal their business and recreate it for yourself, cutting out the middle man?

I own a business downtown and I am proud of other business owners like The Must, who put their blood, sweat and tears into a dream that downtown can regain the glory it once had. People like you, greedy, selfish, narcissistic.... make me sick. I have had plenty of time to sift throught the gossip and the bullshit that I was fed when we first opened and I have been able to really tell "who is who" around here. You leave a trail of drama and destruction wherever you go.

Know this: whatever you put your name on, your hands on, your money into- will fail. The universe does not want people like you poisoning this community. We will not allow people like you to thrive on pain and suffering through manipulation and malice. You have placed the nails in your own coffin. When the dust settles, even if you win this round, it is you who will have to wake up tomorrow with the knowledge of what you have done. The real truth will never be hidden for long.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:04PM – #80

If she does somehow win this round it will be the very definition of a Pyrrhic Victory. Julie has earned her last dime Downtown. Just for giggles check out the Weeneez Yelp page.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:13PM – #81

you can't sell something that's not yours. was julie part business owners with the must? how can you do that? who would be stupid enough to by a resturnant from someone who doesn't own it? this is just nuts

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:22PM – #82

I pity anyone having a business relationship with Julie Rico. She's always impressed me as someone on the verge of snapping, and here it is. The picture of Russ Brown "helping" is epic. Mr. Photo-Op is always there to help with local issues, right? LMAO!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:23PM – #84

Julie Rico, You seem to forget that lots of people (and not just the usual suspects posting to this blog) know you. We have watched your your unfolding public nervous breakdown for years now.

It might have only been sad if it weren't for your malignant need to take others down with you. You have no reputation to defend. You are finished downtown. You have put the final nail in your own coffin.

Your karma is taking a bad turn, lady. And for once in your deluded life you might want to look in the mirror to find the culprit for the sad state you find yourself in.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:36PM – #86

Julie- your pleas for leniency fall on deaf ears. You are judged. And by the resulting fury of the community, your business and JP lounge have no hope. Any sympathy you may or may not have garnered has been squandered by your abhorrent behavior. Had you truly been victimized, public recourse was the correct response, not self help eviction. Ironically justice will come in a few short months when it is you and your mystery partner who are run out of the building when the lack of patronage means you cannot afford your lease.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 03:44PM – #87

Ciscustop = Bert. Always the 4 yo.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:01PM – #88

How can we help the owners of The Must out? I for one would LOVE to see you take the retail space in the Rowan. I think its important to the community to have you centrally located on spring. Besides, from your new digs at the Rowan you can watch the miserable bed that Julie and her sleezy partners have made for themselves. As an owner in the Rowan, I think I can say that we'd be more than happy to have you!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:04PM – #89

Any employee displaced by this action has a legitimate claim to lost wages.

The operators of the displaced business have a substantial claim for any damage to their possessions, loss of income, etc.

If there had been prior acts or threats of violence between the parties, the appropriate action at the time would have been a police report and possibly a restraining order. So the defense of a cloak of darkness as necessary will be scrutinized and already sounds unlikely to withstand a test of reasonableness.

If I were the plaintiff, I'd also exam the new owner to pierce what is likely a thin corporate veil between an entity and the current landlord.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:04PM – #90

Regardless of who's in the right here, I think we can all agree on one fact; Weeneez sucks balls.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:15PM – #92

Julie Rico gets death threat on here?

"You have placed the nails in your own coffin."

Hummm is this for real? High school rumble at the vacant lot.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:15PM – #93

Or what about the guys that got bumped out of a space at Sixth/Spring? That cost Barry Shy what, something like $11 million in a verdict upheld on appeal?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:33PM – #94

ahh JULIE .. honey your RUINED in DTLA! no one will support your business' after all this BAD press.. I mean really? resort to stealing .. c'mon now.. LADY GROW UP!!!.. take responsibility open your hot dog stand and GET TO WORK..

like the rest of us..

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:33PM – #95

"i think nail in the coffin" is just a saying. it means this was the final thing, the community is through with her. even a slob like her deserves to live, if just to see the public backlash at what she has chosen to do.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:38PM – #96

LOL...Look at today's reviews--http://www.yelp.com/biz/weeneez-los-angeles#hrid:XgUpobT4Amg1r8Bd54jWzg

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:38PM – #97

to number 94: no, julie isn't recieving a death theat from anyone here but she has actually killed herself (figuratively) with her own stupidity.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 04:53PM – #101

Space in the Douglas Building with full new kitchen last I checked. Also maybe a sweet deal. Also there was a coffee bar, much smaller space next door which is also available I believe. Westwater is a good connection on this.

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:02PM – #103

Weenez should have been gone a long time ago (well, at least 2 or 3 years in downtown years). At this time, it would probably be best to take your losses (or gains, but I doubt it)...and share your bad taste with another part of town. Please.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:07PM – #104

Here are the facts:

Julie Rico had a valid sublease with The Must Bar for 2 more years through 2012. There was an option for a 5 year extension. Rent was current and paid including a July 2010 rent check that was just cashed.

90% of the substantial total rent was paid monthly by The Must Bar in a very successful business. Even with The Must Bar paying almost all of the rent and majority of the expenses, Julie still could not pay her bills.

Ever wonder why the soda fountain machine is always "broken"? It is because the soda supplier cut them off for lack of non-payment. (Told to me by a Weeneez employee.)

The health department issue with old meat was a Weeneez issue because they sold so little product that it sat on the shelf for weeks. The Must, alternatively, has more than enough customers to keep its product fresh. If the hamburger meat is rancid, Weeneez sells the hamburgers, not The Must.

Julie has been in arrears with many of her bills repeatedly. This is what precipitated the Must owners to start paying bills and vendors directly so as not to risk their business. Recently they changed back to paying Julie directly, including July rent which she cashed.

The owners of the Must have been in legal mediation with Julie for failure to provide the services and terms which were agreed to. Any surprise that working with Julie would make someone want to keep things separate or you would become difficult to work with after Julie giving "her constant help and advice"?

Julie also has illegally continued to live in the Security Building in an affordable housing unit because she stated she has minimal income. She has also repeatedly not renewed her income verification updates under the affordable housing program because she has failed for 3 years to file her income taxes. She has also been served 3 day pay of quit notices on her $500 a month apartment rent. All while almost 90% or more of her business expenses in the joint space were paid by The Must.

Weeneez has few customers because they are almost never open. Want breakfast? They open after 10 am. Want dinner? Closed by 4 pm or earlier. No weekends, no holidays and a very limited menu. The quality and preference for the food is an individual decision.

Does anyone remember how successful Red Dot Lounge was? No one was there. Lime? -Lasted a few months. Julie has repeatedly taken deposits from folks to sublease, not followed through and refused to return the deposits. Get deposits and buyers, fight with them and have them fail and walk off with the money and call them crazy.

The difference this time is The Must was wildly successful so Julie had to shut them down through manufactured fights, false reports and craziness. ANYONE who knows the Rachael, Coly and Julie knows where 100% of the insanity comes from.

Add to that artists who have shown in Julie's previous gallery, had paintings sold and then were never paid by Julie who pocketed the money. Her response was that it was more important or her to pay her bills than to pay the artist that she had just stolen and sold their work. IE. Ms. Rico feels that dishonesty and theft is more important is justified in order for her to continue the greater good of taking care of Julie Rico. Amoral survival of the fittest.

Ask the “new employees” who are required to work Art Walk as free training and then dismissed without cause or pay because of a made up excuse. She is a scammer. Seeing a pattern here?

She has repeatedly posted on broker listings of LoopNet and Craigslist that she was selling Weeneez and The Must, although she does not own The Must and the value of Weeneez with few customers and little profit is questionable.

She does holds the lease and a CUB for the premises for beer and wine. However, the entire Must business was created by the owners of the Must, not by Julie.

So how does this ethical business owner Ms. Julie resolve this disagreement? Let mediation continue which was already ongoing? No.

She had communicated to acquaintances who live in the Security Building that business changes were in store during the 4th of July weekend. She was so excited about coming changes.

She cashes a July rent check from The Must, fails to notify them in person or email or phone (they are in the same space), waits until they are out at 1 am on Friday night, unilaterally with no notice to the present lease holders changes a valid sublease, give keys to others to enter at 2:45 AM to 7 am to steal all the furniture, inventory, computer, refrigerator and other items. She allows an illegal lock out by shutting down a business that she does not own with no notice. No legal eviction, no court order, no notice to the business owner.

The manager of the Security building stated that she has no authority to change any of the terms of the lease without a partnership with the building or the existing lease holders.

She then posts on the door, inside a locked and barricaded storefront that The Must will reopen under a name of JP Lounge in a space that still has an existing lease, furnishings, and inventory - although it has now been trashed and hidden somewhere illegally. The notice also added a nice comment that The Must employees can apply to work after a fraudulent sale by applying at Weeneez.

The asking price posted on the web by Ms. Rico was $100,000 for Weeneez (with no customers and no profit) and $250,000 for The Must (which she has no ownership of). Not hard to figure out the motives of this.

Friends of the owners of the Must who saw the ad arranged a walk thru as potential buyers. They took the tour and were fraudulently told by Julie that indeed she owned The Must business, all of its furnishings and inventory. Julie asked that the prospective owners not communicate with The Must owners them because they are "very difficult."

Julie's own comment was that she had to move for her own survival. Pity poor David Holtzman who has now been suckered by Ms. Rico to have bought her Brooklyn Bridge.

Activity inside The Must on Sunday resulted in BID security calls and LAPD on site visit. David Holtzman was on site stating he has purchased from Julie The Must business, owns all the furnishings and is unaware why there is a problem.

Ms. Rico of course had disappeared, did not return phone calls or emails and is assumed to be innocent of all this insanity because business owners, I guess, have the right to steal, lie and sell others businesses without anyone paying attention. (She has since resurfaced and acts as if theft and destruction of a very successful business is a minor misunderstanding.)

This is not a simple business disagreement. This is premeditated illegal lock out, criminal trespassing, fraud and grand theft. The intent was to destroy The Must business and make it incapable of continuing business.

The 20 employees of The Must are now unemployed so that Ms. Rico can skip away in the financial fraud she has left behind.

Let her supporters claim innocence and misunderstanding.They are co-conspirators in the known fraud that Julie represents any degree of community concern or honesty.

This is the same Julie that has trashed folks nonstop via emails and the Internet as she professed her love of the downtown community and her honesty. Fortunately, she has shown her true colors.

She has now stolen an entire business and disappeared over a 4 day weekend in the middle of the night. Not a very fitting description of actions if all of this was legal.

Folks are legally innocent until proven guilty. However, when they self confess, sign documents, leave an obvious trail of documentation in their wake and their partners and accomplishes are caught red handed on video tapes as an initiator of grand theft, the courts, LAPD and the law will prevail.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:21PM – #106

Thank you #104, very insightful and informative.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:31PM – #107

{{{ making a 2nd bowl of popcorn with no plans of leaving }}}

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:34PM – #109

Thank you Bert #104. Tisk,

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:39PM – #110

I can't find my glasses. Who let Julie Rico into my loft??

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 05:47PM – #111

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman! lol.

Howie

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:07PM – #112

I vote for The Must to move to the Blackstone...or anyplace further south than their current location -- we need more good stuff at the southern edges of the Core! It gets pretty sparse once you get south of 5th street. We never went in because every time we walked by, it looked packed; so move to a bigger space so more of us can come support you!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:11PM – #113

The judge should give the whole space to the Must.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:22PM – #115

Considering how these events played out - how is it possible that this is merely a civil case? Where are our civic leaders? Huizar?? Perry?? I'm so incredibly disappointed with the fact that no one has rushed in.

The fact that this happens and the police throw their hands up, defer to the courts (which are obviously on vacation) and no one from the city has come forward to assist demostrates how failed the system is.

Evern with the outpouring...funny how our civic leaders are stunningly absent. They would be there with bells on (and with the press in tow) if one of the "big guys" was in trouble, but when the "little guy" is in trouble they are no where to be found.

Another case of money talks, and the little guy walks.

I'm REALLY mystified. Dumbfounded. And quite honestly, scared for my city.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:22PM – #116

What's the name of this new place --- J.P. Scumbag's???

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:29PM – #117

#115 probably on vacation. Wheels will start turning tomorrow.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:55PM – #118

I think post #104 pretty much blows away whatever credibility can be found in Julie Rico's posts #58 and #64. I actually started to feel a bit of sympathy for her after reading #58. But fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Julie, you appear to be a big-time flake and quite unethical. For our sake and yours, please -- PLEASE! -- move back to your hometown of Detroit, Michigan. You know, the city that has a long track record of voting in, over and over again, super dishonest, super sleazy, super corrupt politicians. Motown is ideal for people like you.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 06:57PM – #119

“Of course we were in our legal rights to do what we did,” Rico wrote later. “There is no warrant for my arrest, as this is a civil matter that will be settled in arbitration.”

So said Leona Helmsley. Can't wait for the handcuff photos for all 3. Julie, Sid Carter and David Holtzman.

Rico explained that the work was done after 2:30am to minimize disruptions. "The area is extremely busy during the day. So we made the move at the most convenient time," she wrote.

And what of the inconvenience of the law? The inconvenience of the business destroyed and 20 unemployed workers?

Most convenient for rats and roaches to scurry about in the dark. Legitimate business transactions easily see the light of day and need no explanation. Illegal activity is hidden until uncovered at dawn.

There will be a number of dawns arriving soon.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:03PM – #120

Guest #117 - That's another thing broken with this city, nothing here happens in a New York minute...unless there's money involved. Money talks. Sad. Frightning.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:08PM – #121

A friend of mine sent me a link to this because she thought it was so interesting. I've read the story written by Ed Fuentes as well as all the comments. I have to agree that whatever the reason, its a sad day when things like this are allowed to happen. What's even sadder is that no one seems to be doing anything about it.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:11PM – #122

doesn't anyone have a space they can give to these guys temporarily to set up shop until this can get resolved?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:15PM – #123

all I can say is wow.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:23PM – #126

Bert Green or not #104 has stated the facts clearly. Julie and her plan (yes plan) to do the slip and slide, in and out, shell game is over. The woman is bad news, bad buisness and bad to the bone. Everything you do is sleeze drama Julie and under the table. If everyone who had a bad dealing or bad business deal with Julie wrote on this blog it would become longer than the lost Xena scrols. You are a scam the flim flm woman and I for one will be happy if come Tuesday you are found guilty and put behind bars.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:40PM – #128

FWIW, at about 7:30 tonight (Monday) there was someone inside Weenez papering over the windows in that space same as the Must's. I suspect it's not for a little touch-up painting...

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 07:49PM – #130

So, let me get this straight...I'm looking at the pictures.

Julie Rico posted "a notice of ownership change" behind something that that Must had already posted on the window to somehow make it less likely they would notice it? Right?

Rico claims that J.P. Lounge is the new (full) owner and the new owner wants to keep Weeneez (which has full street frontage on Spring Street).

Really? Somehow I don't think so.

That girl is going down.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:15PM – #131

ahh Julie Rico.. practice what you preach.. LOVE? RESPECT? LADY again get back to WORK and give these people back their stuff so they can do the same..

you have NO SHAME!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:23PM – #132

Has Julie become Norma Desmond with the straight jacket awaiting?

Love and light?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:28PM – #133

Julie's own words:

http://blogging.la/2010/07/05/must-bars-robbery-turned-lease-dispute/

From Ms. Julie: “[I]t was always our intention to work with these people. But it just did not work out. I needed to make changes to Weeneez to make it more effective. I needed to work closely with them to do it. Well they never allowed this, so we had no choice but to sell the business. We were dying here. It is not the fault of the new business owner. It is because we had a monster on our hands and we needed to get out from under it.”

Let's analyze Ms. Julie's words (which LAPD and the court will do).

“We were dying here.”

This tells in all. Julie had NOTHING in her Weeneez business (ever see any customers?). She could not pay her bills and The Must was the success not Julie or Weeneez with no customers, no profit, no goodwill, and no viable business plan.

“It’s not the fault of the new business owner”.

Yep, but when you buy stolen merchandise, you lose your money and are an accomplice in the theft.

“It is because we had a monster on our hands and we needed to get out from under it.”

The monster is Julie, the failed business that she created and the legal quicksand and self imposed legal jeopardy she has placed herself in. I guess she could not tell the difference between her reflection and herself.

Continued from the article: As to why the move-out occurred in the dead of night, Rico explains “We needed to make this happen with the least amount of disturbance from crazy people. Also, as you may or may not know this corner is very busy. We needed to make this happen so that we would not be disturbed in doing so.”

“We needed to make this happen with the least amount of disturbance from crazy people”.

Folks have a tendency to get crazy when you steal from them……. Also LAPD, security, building management, business owners also show up.

"Also, as you may or may not know this corner is very busy."

Never busy from Weeneez customers. Busy with film shoots, busy with Art Walk, busy on 5th Street from The Must customers. Not busy from Weeneez when they are not open in the morning, evening, weekends, holidays. Come to think of it, even when Weeneez was open, it was still dead and quiet.

From the article: (Notably, Rico does not explain why all this occurred without giving adequate notice to The Must, or why no unlawful detainer action was filed before seizing “back” the premises or locking The Must out of its bar.). Finally, Rico states that The Must was well aware that Weeneez LLC was “considering a market transaction. They also made the first offer, which was an unreasonable offer.”

Yes, I guess it is considered unreasonable that an owner of a business must buy from a landlord their own business. Ms. Rico held a lease with 2 years on it, a signed agreement with The Must for those 2 years, a beer and wine CUB and license that was used by The Must. The market transaction Julie refers to was to sell The Must business (that she did not own).

From the article: Coly told me via email that they have “offered numerous times to buy [Rico/Weeneez] out but they felt we didn’t offer them enough money.”

At $100,000 for Weeneez (no customers, no profit, no goodwill, no viable business plan) and $250,000 for The Must (which Julie did not own and The Must owners refused to pay as extortion/ ransom or a fair market transaction- for a stolen business), Ms. Rico’s options were only dead of night theft and a naïve new business partner who has now bought stolen goods on a lease to the BP Deep Horizon oil platform location with such a great view.

Can we say welcome to your new Chernobyl power plant?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:28PM – #134

@#104 - If it is true that The Must has a valid sub-lease through 2012, it appears that Julie Rico improperly unilaterally changed the lease to show a new owner which is what was shown to LAPD. If this is the case, it is not valid and presumably the courts would allow The Must to return to its space once it is sorted out, although that could take awhile.

Hopefully there is not a true 3rd party who paid money to her for the bar, or he may be out of luck if she runs off with his money. I doubt that she has much collateral for him to go after. Scary.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:34PM – #136

Ciscustop = Bert.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:41PM – #137

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:35PM – #140

Julie's own words:

http://blogging.la/2010/07/05/must-bars-robbery-turned-lease-dispute/

From Ms. Julie: “[I]t was always our intention to work with these people. But it just did not work out. I needed to make changes to Weeneez to make it more effective. I needed to work closely with them to do it. Well they never allowed this, so we had no choice but to sell the business. We were dying here. It is not the fault of the new business owner. It is because we had a monster on our hands and we needed to get out from under it.”

Let's analyze Ms. Julie's words (which LAPD and the court will do).

“We were dying here.”

This tells in all. Julie had NOTHING in her Weeneez business (ever see any customers?). She could not pay her bills and The Must was the success not Julie or Weeneez with no customers, no profit, no goodwill, and no viable business plan.

“It’s not the fault of the new business owner”.

Yep, but when you buy stolen merchandise, you lose your money and are an accomplice in the theft.

“It is because we had a monster on our hands and we needed to get out from under it.”

The monster is Julie, the failed business that she created and the legal quicksand and self imposed legal jeopardy she has placed herself in. I guess she could not tell the difference between her reflection and herself.

Continued from the article: As to why the move-out occurred in the dead of night, Rico explains “We needed to make this happen with the least amount of disturbance from crazy people. Also, as you may or may not know this corner is very busy. We needed to make this happen so that we would not be disturbed in doing so.”

“We needed to make this happen with the least amount of disturbance from crazy people”.

Folks have a tendency to get crazy when you steal from them……. Also LAPD, security, building management, business owners also show up.

"Also, as you may or may not know this corner is very busy."

Never busy from Weeneez customers. Busy with film shoots, busy with Art Walk, busy on 5th Street from The Must customers. Not busy from Weeneez when they are not open in the morning, evening, weekends, holidays. Come to think of it, even when Weeneez was open, it was still dead and quiet.

From the article: (Notably, Rico does not explain why all this occurred without giving adequate notice to The Must, or why no unlawful detainer action was filed before seizing “back” the premises or locking The Must out of its bar.). Finally, Rico states that The Must was well aware that Weeneez LLC was “considering a market transaction. They also made the first offer, which was an unreasonable offer.”

Yes, I guess it is considered unreasonable that an owner of a business must buy from a landlord their own business. Ms. Rico held a lease with 2 years on it, a signed agreement with The Must for those 2 years, a beer and wine CUB and license that was used by The Must. The market transaction Julie refers to was to sell The Must business (that she did not own).

From the article: Coly told me via email that they have “offered numerous times to buy [Rico/Weeneez] out but they felt we didn’t offer them enough money.”

At $100,000 for Weeneez (no customers, no profit, no goodwill, no viable business plan) and $250,000 for The Must (which Julie did not own and The Must owners refused to pay as extortion/ ransom or a fair market transaction- for a stolen business), Ms. Rico’s options were only dead of night theft and a naïve new business partner who has now bought stolen goods on a lease to the BP Deep Horizon oil platform location with such a great view.

Can we say welcome to your new Chernobyl power plant?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:46PM – #138

There are a lot of considerations here which should be investigated...and it is up to The Must to pursue whatever criminal complaints, most especially fraud/bunko for the conversion of property if the "new owner" is not a straw buyer. So many victims...none of them named Julie...

If one tenth the assertions in the post up thread are true, there will be prep walks. I really hope The Must has a good attorney...and that he or she is willing to walk them thru their options...especially with regard to doing a sit down with the DA.

however, if what the post above is true, the person involved may be judgment proof...but don't listen to her opinion that nothing criminal happened here. It is just that the initial investigation by uniform officers suggested that this was a civil matter. By the time this thing is finished...Howie will not be talking presumption of innocence.

(and seeing stuff which is not yours)

The only problem I see for The Must is that Julie held the liquor license....which oh, by the way, have morals clauses.

For your own best interests here, Julie, please don't post any more publicly. What you say can be used against you in a court of law...

Reserve Lofts might want their lawyers looking at leases as well.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:49PM – #139

Julie,

Not only did you effect the lives and business of The Must, but also of all the employees who worked there, and depended on paychecks and tip money to pay bills and rent. These people are our neighbors, we see them everyday. Are you so cold that you had to punish everyone involved?? In this economy, jobs are hard to find; not only will The Must lose money, but all of the employees are now out of employment at the first of the month. How will they pay their bills and rent? Will you help them with that??

If you were well within your legal rights, then (as someone already suggested) didn't you do it up front, and with the blessing of the city, community, etc. If your allegations against The Must are true, where is your documentation?

Creeping in the dead of night, using tools to break into wine cages, and taking out the whole lot is not only shady.... I doubt it is legal. Giving someone a notice on July 1st (via mail they did not receive... ever hear of email??) and taking possession 2 days later hardly gives an established business time to even plan or figure anything out. Even if you are somehow miraculously in the right, how is 3 days sufficient amount of time to take down a business, inform employees?? What you did is despicable and I am not sure how you can sleep at night.

It is not as if you were trying to run a successful business. I made the mistake of coming to your place once, mainly because I was SHOCKED it was actually open for once. It took 25 minutes to get a hot dog, and it came from you! You served it to me.... how can you have been open since 2006 and you can't whip up a hot dog in less than 25 minutes??? Do not pretend to hide behind the guise of wanting to improve your business..... you are never open, your product is suspect and not time effective. You have failed at reading your customer base and failed to contribute, in a positive way, to the economy or downtown. The best thing you ever did was invite The Must to sub-lease from you. It probably helped pay your bills and keep yourself afloat. What sucker did you get this time to bank role your life? Or did you think that since The Must could do it that somehow you could effectively steal their business and recreate it for yourself, cutting out the middle man?

I own a business downtown and I am proud of other business owners like The Must, who put their blood, sweat and tears into a dream that downtown can regain the glory it once had. People like you, greedy, selfish, narcissistic.... make me sick. I have had plenty of time to sift throught the gossip and the bullshit that I was fed when we first opened and I have been able to really tell "who is who" around here. You leave a trail of drama and destruction wherever you go.

Know this: whatever you put your name on, your hands on, your money into- will fail. The universe does not want people like you poisoning this community. We will not allow people like you to thrive on pain and suffering through manipulation and malice. You have placed the nails in your own coffin. When the dust settles, even if you win this round, it is you who will have to wake up tomorrow with the knowledge of what you have done. The real truth will never be hidden for long.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 08:55PM – #140

Julie Julie Julie....I feel so sorry for you, do you have any idea how much trouble your in with the Universe? Karma is truly a Righteous Bitch. I don't know if you "Must Groupies" know this (and there seems to be many) But miss Julie, has been arrested in the past for fraud. Hmmmm does one never change their leopard spots?? I believe she has a partner that is soon to be duped, stuffed, and hung on the wall of "Oh My God What the FFFF did I get myself into???? To Bad another one bites the dust.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:23PM – #142

From one of the last movies I saw on the disco ball tv, in the wise words of the Dude, "This aggression will not stand, man." I guess no one told this Julie woman about not shitting where one eats. To the crew at the Must, stay strong. The neighborhoods not the same without you guys.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:39PM – #143

Thunderdome!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 09:48PM – #144

Julie you are a raging lunatic and you have done something that hurts not only the community, but will ultimately damage your already tarnished reputation and that of any businesses associated with you. How dare you drag such a private matter out into the public after you have already violated so many ethical laws of business?

As a downtown patron I will always support legitimate businesses. The men and woman at the Must were so delightful and I will happily follow them to any new venue. Hang in there folks, downtown is behind you!

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:03PM – #145

Perhaps someone should have a benefit pop up party/flash mob on Thursday night for The Must to pay for legal fees. Who's up for it?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:08PM – #147

I think there are two parts to this that we must all consider:

• The legal aspect which is yet to be determined and will be by arbitration.

• The moral aspect where there could have been many better ways to deal with the situation. On that note, I do believe that Weeneez paid for the majority of the build out at both spaces and this may have lead them to believe they own most of the property. This probably did not give them any right to remove physical inventory/furniture belonging to The Must.

I believe The Must did not have to build out the kitchen, the expensive air conditioning/plumbing/etc.., so technically they still made out pretty well. I don't know if this is the case but the space existed 3 years ago as Lime Cafe.

I hope The Must owners decide to invest in downtown and even if there is a space that has not yet been built, decide to make that investment like we have in them. Regardless of how we feel about either party, they were instrumental in building this cohesive community that we call the Historic Core and I am thankful for that.

So many businesses on Spring are either already going out of business or are on the verge of doing so. Lot 44, Ma Petit, California Fresh, Maui Wowi, etc... so we need all the help we can get around here.

The Must please stay around here because we obviously love you. You obviously have a good business plan so take over one of the Rowan spaces, the Arcade building, or any other space in the Historic Core.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:12PM – #148

Based on the business that The Must was doing, I don't think they need much help for legal fees. I just hope they decide to stick around.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:21PM – #150

The ROWAN is a perfect space to consider. Right where they are now and a complete blank canvas with which to work.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:33PM – #151

all i know is i and my friends will support the must wherever they are. we have been going there for over a year now and feel as though it's our cheers. they know our names stop and talk when we see them about the neighborhood. the last thing weeneez did for me is give me a case of the runs.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:36PM – #152

This community is happy with the Must and disgusted with the hotdog place. It's completely obvious.

I'm a lawyer, and I can tell you that Rico is in the wrong. It's patently obvious. The tragedy is that it'll take a substantial amount of time and money for the Must to relocate and for the Must's ownership and employees to be compensated. Don't expect it to happen overnight.

It's absolutely essential that the community expresses itself in this matter. It'll provide support to the Must and their people and undermine Rico and her plans.

We live here, Rico. Our voice is legion, you fuckstain.

If anyone hears a whisper of threat from RICO (inside joke for lawyers) about public comments made on this matter, know that the law protects those engaged in public debate. It's called SLAPP, and it could break her if she gets frisky. Email me at if you're threatened.

• A Downtown Legal Professional Who Has Nothing to Do With This

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:49PM – #153

Art Walk protest! Art Walk protest! Cover the walls of The Must with your comments and support.

Practice the love Julie asks -- your love for The Must!

Use art to express your outrage and memorialize the Wicked Witch of Her Own Little World with your creative expression of outrage!!

These streets are ours...so get your Art Walk on and show your support for The Must this Thursday night.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 10:56PM – #154

If The Must did not have that much start up costs beyond the furniture, did such good business, and have such a strong following, why don't they just start another business in the close by area.

Obviously it's not as easy as it sounds but this way they don't have to rent out a space from another space to do business under their liquor license and their kitchen.

This does not bring legal matters into the picture but why not just not deal with the drama and continue with business to all of our benefits.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:09PM – #155

This David Holtzman guy has no idea what kind of hell he's landed into. He's going to be as hated as that Barry Shy guy. Where do these people come from?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:13PM – #156

She thinks she can do whatever she wants and the community will look the other way, forget, accede, that it'll all blow over.

She's thinkin' wrong.

Anything she does with that space is doomed.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:14PM – #157

This women (my neighbor) lost her marbles. Not only am I out of work as I DJ at The Must, but so are 20 other people. How can this wacko go to sleep at night? And what local is going to support this new "wine and beer" bar"? Does she really think she will get away with this !?

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:22PM – #158

unbelieveable. truly unbelievable.

Guest on July 05, 2010, at 11:38PM – #159

As a person who has worked downtown in the restaurant/bar industry for quite sometime I would like to point out to Julie that she has just destroyed whatever good will she had left in our little community. To The Must: Stay strong, we love you and know that you have the overwhelming backing of downtown residents and business owners. To Julie: Have fun negotiating the rapids of sh*t's creek.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:04AM – #160

Julie’s lullabye song so she can sleep so well Knowing all the LOVE we are sending her in gratitude for her support of her neighbors and community. Thanks for trying to Kill The Must. But you have failed.

Psycho Killer Lyrics Artist(Band):Talking Heads

I can’t seem to face up to the facts. I’m tense and nervous and I... can’t relax. I can’t sleep, cause my bed’s on fire. Don’t touch me I’m a real live wire.

Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est? [What is it?] fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa better Run run run run run run run away OH OH OH

You start a conversation you can't even finish it. You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

Chorus

Ce que j'ai fait, ce soir-là [What I did that night] Ce qu'elle a dit, ce soir-là [What she said that night] Réalisant mon espoir [Making my hope come true] Je me lance vers la gloire ... okay [I hurl myself toward glory] YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA We are vain and we are blind I hate people when they're not polite

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:12AM – #161

http://www.themustbar.com/

For Immediate Release (Los Angeles, CA) - On November 5th, 2008 Coly Den Haan and Rachel Thomas, owners of the The Must, entered into an operating/lease agreement with Sid Carter and Julie Rico, owners of Weeneez, LLC. This agreement is valid until January, 2012 with an option to extend for 5 years thereafter. The Must has not breached the contract in any way. Due to Weeneez' numerous breaches of the agreement, The Must filed for arbitration March 11, 2010.

No representative of The Must received any prior notice that anything was going to happen. It paid its rent as usual on June 30. It locked its doors as usual at 2:00 a.m. on July 3rd. The move-out occurred July 3rd at approximately 2:45am. Julie Rico, Sid Carter and the supposed, "new owner", David Holtzman, hired movers to strip The Must of everything including furniture, wine, food, computers and documents. The owners, Den Haan and Thomas were notified by their restaurant manager, Casey Irvine, the next morning that The Must had been stripped of everything. Den Haan and Thomas were not notified of the apparent changes in ownership of Weeneez LLC. The Must is currently seeking relief within the California judicial system. Obviously this heinous act, which was committed during one of the largest holiday weekends of the year leaves The Must with no choice but to wait until the holiday is over in order to remedy this unfortunate situation.

"The Must is a manifestation of a beautiful vision that Coly and I had for a neighborhood bar. We wanted to create a safe haven for everyone who ever had anything to do with The Must. Our employees, our community, we are a family. No matter what, no matter who, no one can take that away from us. We've created something very special, we LOVE seeing the usual suspects, the birthdays, anniversary parties, etc.

The Must is Coly, Rachel, Casey, and Eric, our employees and our community. We are not going anywhere, we will always be downtown. This IS our home."

Thank you for your continued support.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Mitzkus JM-PUBLICITY 111 W. 7th Street, Suite 708 Los Angeles, CA 90014 tel: cell:

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:34AM – #162

Julie Rico appears to be a scumbag. And if her partners Sid Carter and David Holtzman are as aware of the conniving, manipulative gameplaying of Weeneez LLC as the public now is, they're scumbags too.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:43AM – #163

I am personally bocotting this JP Lounge and will not only tell everyone I know to do the same, but I'll tell even people I don't know to do the same via Yelp, Twitter, Facebook, Art Walk, people in my building, people I know in the neighborhood, my coworkers, and even homeless people on the street... I plan on spreading the word.

This is total B.S.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:50AM – #164

Coly, Rachel, Casey, and Eric: I think you can see here that you have our support. Sorry that you have to go through this, but Downtown has your back.

Julie: Get help. I don't mean the legal kind, though you will need that too. The psychological kind. It's called Borderline Personality Disorder (symptoms include paranoid delusions that lead to malicious behavior that lead to paranoid delusions coming true -- like those villagers with torches that are lining up at your door).

I know you truly think that you are the victim here, but that's your sickness. It's not the reality.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:23AM – #166

When the owner of the impressively-named "JP Lounge" laid down with dogs, he got fleas. Unsurprising.

His hands are unclean, the space is tainted, and if I were him, and he's remotely innocent in this matter, I'd be spinnin' my wheels in reverse at full throttle trying to remove myself completely from this mess.

Starting a new business is hard enough without enduring the active hostility of an engaged community in our new, interconnected Yelp/Twitter/Facebook age. Good luck fighting crowdsourced boycott and enmity, douche.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:29AM – #167

It's all the Hipsters fault :( Perhaps if they weren't so pretentious this wouldn't have happened. Karma xoxo

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:55AM – #168

Every single one of you people are insane and I love it.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 07:32AM – #169

Adam S.,

The new owner of Weeneez LLC actually engaged in the late night raid. If he really believed he was conducting a legit business transaction, why would he feel it was necessary to break in at 2:45am and then proceed to use tools to break into wine cages to take the inventory in the middle of the night?

I think David Holtzman had an pretty good idea of what was going on. When the police arrived, he didn't act astonished or shocked that the business was stilled owned and that all this craziness insued. He actualy told the police that he owned the business so he didn't see what was wrong.

I own a business in the historic core. I don't do anything shady, so I don't actually have to do anything after 2am in the morning. I can actually conduct my business during normal business hours...... I'm afraid David's interaction in the late night raid just might speak volumes about wht he knew and didn't know.

As it has been speculated, this seems like a calculated plan. Not a very clever plan, but I'd venture to say all parties involved knew what they were doing. This was a plan to pretend to change the ownership of Weeneez to push out The Must. Why else would the new owner "love the Weeneez concept" and agree to let them keep the corner space?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:10AM – #173

let's not heap all the "love" on Julie Rico alone. Sid Carter is the co-owner of Weeneez, opening it in 2006 with Rico. He is equally shady, maybe more-so because he is letting his partner take the fall alone.

Google Julie Rico & Sid Carter, to find all the crap they have been stirring up for a long time around downtown.

BTW, is Sid like some wimpy man? Didn't Rico feel she was threatened by the pint sized Thomas? Why didn't she sic Sid on them???

Anyone have a link to photos of Sid & Rico? I'd like to know when I walk by them downtown..... I'd like to give them a HUGE piece of my mind.

Thanks!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:23AM – #174

"Weeneez will be changed to a new concept" Julie Rico

Oh, the upside of delusion... you really have no idea what's coming, do you JR? Time to pop the popcorn and watch the karma show.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:31AM – #176

here is the link to the loopnet.com listing where Julie Rico is selling The Must's business..... if any of you had doubts before:

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing//500-S-Spring-St-Los-Angeles-CA/

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:35AM – #177

this, is the same listing the year before.... presumably what The Must saw and got in for? it actually states that the sale was for a 5 year lease with a 5 year option.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing//118-W-5th-street-Los-Angeles-CA/

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:51AM – #178

"I can't find my glasses. Who let Julie Rico into my loft??" ____ LOLOLOL!!!

Thank you guest #110 for this. It should be printed on T-Shirts. I'd be the first to buy one. Too Funny.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:55AM – #179

Living downtown for 6 years, I've always had to try and accept the grime, the dog shit, the crack (and the violence destitution associated with it). But Weeneez? It's been one of the worst aspects of living here (the absolute worst thing is the destruction that Barry Shy heaped on the tower building at 6th and Spring, it's obscene).

So, I've had many good times at The Must, but always found it a bit too close to Weeneez to be an ideal spot. If that monstrosity of a hotdog joint doesn't fold (and any new 'concept' by these cretins will be just as bad), than perhaps it would be best for The Must to find a better location in the neighborhood. The old 5 and dime store that closed at 7th and Spring would need a lot of work, but it's gorgeous. Then there are the spaces at 8th and Spring that are equally attractive. The Must will undoubtedly attract their loyal clientele to any location they choose. So if they must change location, The Must crowd will follow.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:12AM – #180

Here are some chants for Thursday's Art Walk protest supporting The Must over Weeneez owner Julie Rico:

"We want The Must, Must have The Must"

"Julie is a crook, Julie is a crook"

Remember to bring your self-adhesive ready piece of art for the walls of The Must. Feel free to bring some outrage art for the walls of Weeneez too.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:19AM – #182

it's tuesday and we are all back to work. lets get this settled. open up the law offices and city clerks office. lets see justice work. lets see everything the fourt of july is about really happen. i'm so sick of the law beng twisted.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:32AM – #184

People...CALL and WRITE your local representatives, newspapers and LAPD. The squeaky wheel gets the justice. The people who are responsible for this blatant illegal property seizure MUST be brought to justice. The system will let this fall through the cracks unless they have no choice but to quiet the concerned community.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:32AM – #185

If anyone is protesting on Thursday's ArtWalk, please don't bring any signs with adhesive that may actally damage the windows of The Must. That would be counterproductive and may end up being costly to remove. Not to mention you put yourself in danger of being arrested for defacing property. We don't want to cause a scene that The Must might be associated with in a bad way, or cause them to have to spend money that they must already reserve for lawyers and other damages, which I am sure are mounting. Remember, Ms. Rico still holds the master lease and will most likely call the police if anything bad happens. We don't want to give her a reason to cry out victem anymore.

If we must protest, let's do it intelligently. Why not pass out copies of the Blogdowntown article and pass them out or tape them with masking tape to the windows so people can grab them and read about the horrible tragedy.

Inciting a riot would not be wise. If our citizens can burn cars when their team wins a basketball game, think of what they could do when really angry? Peaceful and intelligent protest, if you must......

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:19AM – #188

Ads documenting the postings for the purchase of the space that had been Red Dot Gallery that later became The Must and the posting by Julie to resell The Must.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing//118-W-5th-street-Los-Angeles-CA/

This was the ad from Julie selling the space that later became The Must. Note that it is advertised as 5 year lease with a 5 year option. Key money 150K includes the beer and wine license, furniture and fixtures and the business rights.

So if Julie sold the license, furniture, fixtures and business rights, the only way to take it back is to steal it in the middle of the night with a false sale.

Downtown Bistro 118 W 5th street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

• Rental Rate: N/A • Property Type: Retail • Property Sub-type: Restaurant • Building Size: 214,867 SF • Lot Size: 19,009 SF • Last Verified 4/10/2008 Listing ID Description Newly Built out bistro with Beer and Wine license in an art gallery in the heart of the Gallery district downtown LA. 50-60 seat dining with a bar and kitchen. Key money 150K includes the beer and wine license, furniture and fixtures and the business rights. Seller would like the right to continue operating art gallery, but not mandatory. lease is for 5 years with a five year option. On the corner of 5th and Spring behind Weeneez hot dogs. Surrounded by luxury apartments and condo projects. This will soon be one of the most densely populated residential areas downtown.

This was the ad from Julie she put up selling The Must and Weeneez. Julie was repeatedly put on notice to stop advertising to sell a business she did not own.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing//500-S-Spring-St-Los-Angeles-CA/

Beautiful Restaurant/Beer Wine Bar 500 S. Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The CORNER! Total Space Rentable:3,600 SFRental Rate:N/AProperty Type:RetailProperty Sub-type:RestaurantBuilding Size:200,000 SFLast Verified 11/19/2009

Listing ID

Description GREAT DOWNTOWN BAR/RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITY

Superb corner location in the heart of LA's thriving Historic Core/Gallery Row District. 3,600 sf. Fully equipped, Licensed with a Type 41 B/W license. Turnkey restaurant/bar with strong sales and excellent lease. PRIME... Rare opportunity for beer and wine people. 3 Large Heating and AC units including the kitchen! Full Kitchen Offers and Partners will be considered. Willing to discuss innovative financing.

Location has two addresses 118 W. 5th St and 500 S. Spring St. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB 118 W. 5th St Tenant

Please DO NOT CONTACT "THE MUST" beer and wine bar. Julie Rico from Weeneez is responsible for the sale of the property, ONLY. Thank you.l

Prime location in Historic Core/Gallery Row. Ground floor of fully occupied 200 units apartment/loft building. Heavily trafficked dense loft area, street parking.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:50AM – #189

Ms. Rico, repeating over and over again "Please people reserve judgement about me" does not endear you to the readers of this blog. Based on the facts (and trying my hardest to ignore your mudslinging), it seems you failed to act responsibly, ethically or legally for that matter. You gave your tenants no notice and cleared their space in the middle of the night!!! Please realise this makes you look like a raving, underhanded lunatic. I hate to resort to insults, but you really do seem like a crazy person.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:00AM – #190

This is so unfortunate; the Must was a great place. Sometimes I long for the "old" Downtown before this so-called gentrification, but that's another subject altogether. It wasn't perfect, but it made sense. We had our cool little places that weren't fancy, but they were ours. And there was no place for all of the drama queen crap (it was too scuzzy for them!). There may be upsides to the new Downtown, but I have to say that overall, the continuing "yuppifcation" of Downtown L.A. sometimes makes me sick. If I wanted to live in Santa Monica, I would have moved there 14 years ago. Fond memories of the old Downtown, always! (R.I.P. Al's Bar - MY kind of "wine bar!")

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:05AM – #191

Last I checked, the legal process of evicting a tenant, residential or commercial property, was a 90 day notice of eviction, followed by a 30 day notice, especially when changing ownership of the property with still existing tenants. At minimum, the tenants must be contacted TWICE before they can be "removed", and they have to have proof of signature of receipt of being served such documents. The more notices signed, the more proof of warning from the owners, old or new. And a liquor license was actually transfered? Not so sure of that.

I could be wrong, I guess. But then again, I work in eminent domain/right of way.

BTW... none of my friends, nor I, will be bringing business to the new owners/tenants. I will await the Must's new location if it comes to that, even if it's in effing Sherman Oaks, or Irvine or wherever.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:07AM – #192

regardless as to whether or not it was illegal, i've lived downtown for 2 years, directly across the street from the must. i have a huge group of friends here, everyone has pretty single agreed that whatever business goes into this space will be boycotted. and it's not even because we like the must, it's because this was a shady thing to do and we support downtown businesses operating justly. this new business that hasn't even opened yet has a HUUUUUGE boycott tag all over it already, it won't survive.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:26AM – #193

LOL, this shows how out of touch and OLD real estate and property managers are in Los Angeles. Downtown has what is probably the best/most loyal foodie following in southern California. I know people that drive from Pasadena just to go to The Must for a dinner. If anyone thinks that the new business has a chance in hell at surviving this fiasco you may as well commit yourself to a psych ward. This new place may as well be serving up the plague, nobody is going to come here. Everyone in Downtown/SoCal knows what happened, it wasn't done under the radar, the new biz is screwed. You may as well have cleared out the Lakers locker room and brought a new team in. Downtown has the most loyal people around, and nobody living around here is going to support this nonsense.... silly old folks, tricks are for kids

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:50AM – #194

#191 - You're way off on the time limits. The rules you state are only for eminent domain actions. Evictions can be done in as little as 3 days depending on the circumstances. And there are different rules for evicting residential and commercial tenants.

But in this situation, things get super complicated. Based on my reading for all the posts, The Must was a subtenant of Rico's lease. And they were all sharing rights and obligations. What a cluster-fuck of a situation. So it's impossible to figure out without reading the lease and sublease what kind of time limits and notices are required.

But one thing I can say to all is that this is a CIVIL matter, no a CRIMINAL one. That means that the police will not be involved and no one is going to jail, no matter how in the wrong him or her was. Plus, since it is a civil matter, a lawsuit has to be filed to enforce the rights under the lease and it takes months to years for a civil matter to be resolved in court.

Frankly, my thought is that the owner of the building should see if they can terminate the lease with Julie and then sign a new lease with The Must for the whole space. Since the community is just going to boycott whatever else is going to go in The Must's space, any new tenant is going to flop and therefore not pay rent to the building owner. So the owner should take control of the situation, terminate the lease with Julie, put The Must back in and avoid having to deal with a soon to be deadbeat tenant.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:59AM – #195

Pst #194 - this is the best solution Ive seen so far!!! and the only way to make this car wreck somewhat salvagable. I hope the owner takes your advise!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:05PM – #196

Oh you kooky hipsters.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:05PM – #197

I love that a man was shot at 530 am on Sunday morning at 7th and Spring and all everyone can talk about it their favorite bar.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:16PM – #198

Agree with #197. Can we get some information on the shooting?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:18PM – #199

Simpson Housing is the owner of Rico's Master Lease. Here is a way to contact them to show your discord at the current situation.

If we are really strong in numbers, and you are truly for the cause, please take a minute to copy & paste this to your browser and let Simpson Housing know what you think of Weeneez & Julie Rico..... be sure to mention any boycott of a business owned by Julie Rico:

http://www.simpsonpropertygroup.com/mailform/index.cfm/fuseaction/showFeedbackForm/contentID/25/navID/25

Hit people where it hurts: the wallet. Also, if there is a protest to be had, someone should be calling the local news and newspaper outlets. The more press this gets, the more pressure on all people involved to sort this out in a more timely manner. Please let everyone know what is happening- email, facebook, yelp, even myspace.... spread the word.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:19PM – #200

AMEN #197. Sad, sort of vigilantism @ its worst. Due process, who needs that? Proof, who needs that? Proof comes through the judicial process, not on the streets. What if the new owers knew nothing about the situation. Are we always the Judge, Prosecuter and Jury before ANY legal issues are clear? 2 people have brought up, there are legal issues and moral ones. BECAUSE a person wants due process in this matter does not in any way mean a support on the morality of any/all the actions on the part of Rico & Co. Know the difference. Calm down. Our judicial system is in place, we are not. The Must seems like it will survive and has a lot of DT support. Good luck Must. Good luck Downtown LA.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 12:32PM – #201

guest #200, the new owner engaged in the 2:45am raid of The Must. If he knew nothing of the situation, why, oh why, would he feel the need to start work on his new business at 2:45am?? That is either some serious dedication on his part or someone that knew something was amis.

i own a business downtown, i don't work @ 2:45am for any reason. I don't even know if strippers work past 2am. I admire that you want to wait until the judicial system has it's say, and it seems like you are smart enough to see that there is something amoral about what has transpired; but sometimes the evidence is just stacked so high that one would have to work very hard to maintain ignorance so as to remain nuetral.

Julie Rico is her own smoking gun. she has admitted to it all under the umbrella of the law.

Someone above also posted about different seizure of commercial property under lease agreements. I would like to think that all of these would require a police escort of some kind- not simply a paper drawn up by a lawyer. if that was the case, we'd all be in trouble with people doing whatever their lawyers said they were legally allowed to do. To come in and legally take their purchased property and inventory, a police escort should have been present. That is, if everything was as legal and completey "civil" as some suggest it is.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:19PM – #204

What happened to the Must is sad. Even sadder (& much more life-threatening) is the INCREASE OF SHOOTINGS RIGHT DOWNTOWN WHERE WE LIVE. Let's get our ducks in order here, folks!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:23PM – #205

# 201 It would be advisable for people that want to know what happened in this matter to wait for the judicial findings. Everyone seems to have a piece of the story but not all of it. Of course we all think its our own opinion which is correct, that's why there are courts and judges. The court /jury will decide the truth. Let the courts and their arbitrator work it out. Deep breath, exhale.....

Again this has nothing to do with the MORALITY of what was done, which actually it was tacky @ best. The Must had great owners, were respected people and of course deserve help if or when needed.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:37PM – #207

Nancy, Not only is what you say incorrrect but it is disturbingly evil. How can you state thing of what you have no personal information. You are a simple vigilanti.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:43PM – #209

Ciscustop = Bert Green

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:43PM – #210

"I love that a man was shot at 530 am on Sunday morning at 7th and Spring and all everyone can talk about it their favorite bar" - #197

You gotta remember, Downtown isn't exactly the Colosseum where everyone hears and sees everything at the same time. And shootings and robbery have become more common it seems, so it would be nice to get a report of what exactly you are writing about.

We will miss that bar, I must add.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:45PM – #212

Just curious as to how The Must would open without a lease, basic business 101? I hope they reopen.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:50PM – #213

how did Don get a PhD anyway? Did Ms. Rico get it for him? maybe she sold him someone else's, she's real good at offering up what isn't hers. is that why he feels the need to support her so rabbidly??

or maybe she has something else on you, Don. how clean is your closet?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 01:59PM – #214

From Don Noyes-More: For the record. I have only met Ms Rico twice. I gave money to a charity fundraising of hers for an artist in the hospital. I have said good things about Wheenez in the past, as many others have, because we neeed to support downtown business. I have never met any of the owners or any of her associates ever. I have never socialized with her, ever. And most importantly I have not given an opinion anywhere as to what the final outcome of this will be. What I find interesting is the vendeta going on here for many other reasons which have nothing to do with The Must. Old scores to settle from now years ago. Assumed injustice. Silly. Nancy Richardson, you will be hearing from my attorney.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:03PM – #216

Burglary is defined as entering a premise for the purpose of taking something that does not belong to you. Even shoplifting can be prosecuted as burglary.

So the issue here is one of permission versus adverse possession.

Did the occupant give up the ability to grant or deny admission to the premises? Not from the occupants' position.

Was the landlord legally allowed to enter and remove property? Tricky question.

The landlord's position seems to be that the occupant was in adverse possession and that allowed the landlord to enter and remove the "abandoned" property. That comes down to the issues of did the landlord notify the tenant of eviction, etc.

In the absence of prior notice that is shown as received, and the opportunity to vacate, the landlord in this case may have some damages owed to the tenant. Even if all the contract language favors the landlord, only a strained interpretation results in seizure without notification and that is what appears to have happened here.

I can see where this case may never result in a criminal prosecution, but to anyone familiar with the criminal justice system, that does not mean a crime has not occurred.

Certainly anyone contemplating doing business with the landlord will encounter residue of this debacle and adjust accordingly.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:05PM – #217

Don,

You keep pointing out Bert's posts. Who cares?? Who cares if he is ciscustop? By now we know that he is, you outted him. It's a waste of a post.

Why don't you discuss how you told us all that you only met Julie twice in your 10 years downtown. Sounds like you were lying about that.... you seem to know her pretty well. I googled your name and saw many instances of you supporting Rico. Why the need to lie to us about that?

Is it because you are embarrassed? Can't be, anyone with a PhD would be smart enough to stay silent during all this if they had a connection with a possible felon. Your lying to portray your "nuetrality" about the situation while post after post you try to create doubt about the innocence of The Must and cast Rico as a possible victem who "may" be within her legal rights. You have yet to address many issues that are completely valid in this post. You sound like a broken record.

Unfortunately, you may have chosen the wrong side in what seems to be a messy battle. Guess neither you or Rico counted on the strength and determination of our community. Your bet on our ignorance was a misstep.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:08PM – #218

Jdging by all the cops standing around appearing to do nothing in picture #!, are you sure this wasn't a Medical Marijuana dispensary. Seems to be the same operating procedure used by the City of LA and the new "Lessee"

Just Sayin'

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:09PM – #219

From Don Noyes-More: For the record. I have only met Ms Rico twice. I gave money to a charity fundraising of hers for an artist in the hospital. I have said good things about Wheenez in the past, as many others have, because we neeed to support downtown business. I have never met any of the owners or any of her associates ever. I have never socialized with her, ever. And most importantly I have not given an opinion anywhere as to what the final outcome of this will be. What I find interesting is the vendeta going on here for many other reasons which have nothing to do with The Must. Old scores to settle from now years ago. Assumed injustice. Silly. Nancy Richardson, you will be hearing from my attorney.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:11PM – #221

there's that PhD... thinking you can sue just because you don't like someone's opinion.

what about due process, Don? isn't Nancy innocent until proven guilty?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:11PM – #222

manda Leon on July 06, 2010, at 02:03PM – #215

Just got this from the Must's mailing list about an hour ago (on a side note I've been on this list for more than a year and I'm pretty sure this is only the second time they've sent something out?)

_ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Los Angeles, CA) - On November 5th, 2008 Coly Den Haan and Rachel Thomas, owners of the The Must, entered into an operating/lease agreement with Sid Carter and Julie Rico, owners of Weeneez, LLC. This agreement is valid until January, 2012 with an option to extend for 5 years thereafter. The Must has not breached the contract in any way. Due to Weeneez' numerous breaches of the agreement, The Must filed for arbitration March 11, 2010.

No representative of The Must received any prior notice that anything was going to happen. It paid its rent as usual on June 30. It locked its doors as usual at 2:00 a.m. on July 3rd. The move-out occurred July 3rd at approximately 2:45am. Julie Rico, Sid Carter and the supposed, "new owner", David Holtzman, hired movers to strip The Must of everything including furniture, wine, food, computers and documents. The owners, Den Haan and Thomas were notified by their restaurant manager, Casey Irvine, the next morning that The Must had been stripped of everything. Den Haan and Thomas were not notified of the apparent changes in ownership of Weeneez LLC.

The Must is currently seeking relief within the California judicial system. Obviously this heinous act, which was committed during one of the largest holiday weekends of the year leaves The Must with no choice but to wait until the holiday is over in order to remedy this unfortunate situation.

"The Must is a manifestation of a beautiful vision that Coly and I had for a neighborhood bar. We wanted to create a safe haven for everyone who ever had anything to do with The Must. Our employees, our community, we are a family. No matter what, no matter who, no one can take that away from us. We've created something very special, we LOVE seeing the usual suspects, the birthdays and anniversary parties. The Must is Coly, Rachel, Casey, and Eric, our employees and our community. We are not going anywhere, we will always be downtown. This IS our home," stated Rachel Thomas, co-owner of The Must.

www.themustbar.com

MEDIA CONTACT :

Jennifer Mitzkus JM-PUBLICITY 111 W. 7th Street, Suite 708 Los Angeles, CA 90014 tel: cell:

_

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:11PM – #223

Let the judicial system work this out. If THE MUST had their friends be straw buyers they already knew that this was happening. It can be that they were still enjoying the big success that they were having.

Let THE MUST open a location at the Blackstone building and we can go show them support. This is the best way to deal with this. Boycott? What for?

We don't know what happened. It seriously is starting to sound like there was a feud going the entire time that we all were shielded from. How do we know who is right and wrong.

THE MUST has can get their inventory. They have been busy everytime I walk by. Let them open a spot and we will go there.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:17PM – #224

anda Leon on July 06, 2010, at 02:03PM – #215

Just got this from the Must's mailing list about an hour ago (on a side note I've been on this list for more than a year and I'm pretty sure this is only the second time they've sent something out?)

_ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Los Angeles, CA) - On November 5th, 2008 Coly Den Haan and Rachel Thomas, owners of the The Must, entered into an operating/lease agreement with Sid Carter and Julie Rico, owners of Weeneez, LLC. This agreement is valid until January, 2012 with an option to extend for 5 years thereafter. The Must has not breached the contract in any way. Due to Weeneez' numerous breaches of the agreement, The Must filed for arbitration March 11, 2010.

No representative of The Must received any prior notice that anything was going to happen. It paid its rent as usual on June 30. It locked its doors as usual at 2:00 a.m. on July 3rd. The move-out occurred July 3rd at approximately 2:45am. Julie Rico, Sid Carter and the supposed, "new owner", David Holtzman, hired movers to strip The Must of everything including furniture, wine, food, computers and documents. The owners, Den Haan and Thomas were notified by their restaurant manager, Casey Irvine, the next morning that The Must had been stripped of everything. Den Haan and Thomas were not notified of the apparent changes in ownership of Weeneez LLC.

The Must is currently seeking relief within the California judicial system. Obviously this heinous act, which was committed during one of the largest holiday weekends of the year leaves The Must with no choice but to wait until the holiday is over in order to remedy this unfortunate situation.

"The Must is a manifestation of a beautiful vision that Coly and I had for a neighborhood bar. We wanted to create a safe haven for everyone who ever had anything to do with The Must. Our employees, our community, we are a family. No matter what, no matter who, no one can take that away from us. We've created something very special, we LOVE seeing the usual suspects, the birthdays and anniversary parties. The Must is Coly, Rachel, Casey, and Eric, our employees and our community. We are not going anywhere, we will always be downtown. This IS our home," stated Rachel Thomas, co-owner of The Must.

www.themustbar.com

MEDIA CONTACT :

Jennifer Mitzkus JM-PUBLICITY 111 W. 7th Street, Suite 708 Los Angeles, CA 90014 tel: cell:

_

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:20PM – #225

#223, do you realize how much money that would cost? you must not or you wouldn't suggest that.

many places don't have a kitchen or a liquor liscense. also, you are forgetting a huge part of this and that is ArtWalk. they had a prime space in the middle of ArtWalk that cannot just be recreated anywhere. then there is the liquor liscense, i mean it just isn't that easy for them to get up and start fresh again.

websites, business cards, phone numbers and addresses have to change, do you know how hard it is to reach all of your customers about all of those changes? we live in a society of instant gratification. while many downtown residents may take the extra time to search and patronize a new space, many people won't take the time and instead will hit up the nearest joint. it doesn't make sense for them to think of that as their first and best option. it would absolutely have to be a last resort.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:25PM – #227

Let this Feud play out. JR is not a saint but I am sure the people from the must also knew that this might happen.

They rented out a space from Weeneez and used their ABC license. They only paid for cosmetic changes. Just leave and re-open somewhere else and show us you are willing to support Dtown like we support you.

We do not need this drama. It's nonsense.

Everybody knows the saying "you get what you pay for". In this case the must was able to open up cheaply and save money. They got a chance to test out their concept which worked wonders. Now that they have money just open a new place so we can go there.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:25PM – #228

Hi Bert. LOL

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:29PM – #230

LEASE TERMiNATION NOTICE ON WHEENEZ DOOR

Howie

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:33PM – #231

#225 - That is exactly my point. It does cost a lot of time and money which THE MUST did not have to pay the first time around. They did not pay for the construction, the license, and everything else associated with the space.

That's why the post about you get what you pay for. But what I am saying is that now that they KNOW FOR A FACT they have a loyal following, it's less of a risk to open a new place.

If they didn't pay for all this the first time around, why spend time suing for something you did not own in the first place.

I just don't think we should boycott any business downtown. What kind of community would we be? THE MUST owners knew about all the issues for the past year so I am sure they are prepared for it to some extent. I am sure they didn't expect to have their belongings removed but how much can they gain or how much does the community gain now by boycotting everything.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:37PM – #232

I freaked out when I heard about this, I even tweeted Eric about it. I finally had time to read the article at lunch time today. I will miss The Must but they only lost a space hopefully they can relaunch in another location.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:38PM – #233

Judge Nancy Richardson, Judge, Jury, Prosecutor and Executioner, which always happens. Just like in North Korea. Comrad Nancy!

We love you Nancy Oh yes we do!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:45PM – #234

Oh and 4 the 2 Screeming Queens Bert & Don how long do we need to hear this shit between the two of you, going on year 4. My God you Gays never give up. Mambo time Boyzzzzz!!!! "Mama Perkins" An assumed false name of a downtown resident.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 02:59PM – #235

Such a bummer - I always wanted to go to the Must but never got around to it. Hopefully I'll have another chance when they open a new location! And you can bet I won't ever be setting foot in Weeneez or the JP Lounge. I hope this shady Julie woman goes down in flames. Have you read her responses to the Yelp reviews of Weeneez? She is clearly psycho.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 03:06PM – #236

How much trouble could I get in for pooping in ftont of Weenez front door every day until she closes shop and leaves town? Are we talking jail time or a fine? How big a fine?

Certainly I can train my dog to poop in front of her store and get off with a littering ticket at most, right?

Anyone want to have a big breakfast at the Pantry then head over to Weenez with some coffee and cigarettes?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 03:11PM – #237

#227- are you serious?? i own a business, and just because i do does not mean i am rolling in money and can put up shop at the drop of a hat.

"you get what you paid for"? EXACTLY, a lease with an additional 5 year option. nowhere did the lease state "null and void if owner of master lease wants to sell your built and established business"

"cosmetic changes"? do you have any idea how much money those cost?? i had to cut deep into my inventory budget for "cosmetic changes".... it was tens of thousands of dollars and my space is smaller than The Must. and your comment about the ABC liscense, well that was sold with the business too! this idea that people keep pushing is that The Must got what they deserved or that they had this coming to them..... why? because they ran a successful business and were well liked? no one deserves this- no one.

"we don't need this drama"? your right, but why don't you look at the one that created the drama with a 2:45am raid on an unsuspecting business. if your speaking about the outpouring of support for The Must, no apologies there. they deserve every bit of it.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:11PM – #239

Some info on the shooting would be great!

I saw blood drops that led from Premiere towers past LA cafe.

I used to live in Spring towers and people gathered outside that morning said.. (..and I do not have any way of verifying any of this but...)

1. The victim lived in Premiere towers
2. The victim ran to the alley between Main & Spring (I did see police tape/officers in that area)
3. 1 person mentioned hearing rapid gunfire as far away as the Alexandria.

Again..the only thing I can confirm is what I saw...drops of blood and police

I shot a photo for my blog of a small patch of the blood trail here..

http://chadhillphoto.blogspot.com/2010/07/drops-of-blood-from-shooting-on-6th.html

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:22PM – #240

Not that it matters but as an interesting aside with social color...isn't everyone involved in the Must drama LGBTQ? And all the barking dogs are gay too? As are the qusi "faghag" talking heads, no disrespect girls but...." It's a very stange world we live in Master Jack"...

I thought a little humour might be keen.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:29PM – #242

238 posts and counting! all of this is just a lot of hot air and speculation. it sure seems like the must owners/employees got royally screwed, and i sincerely hope they have the money for what is sure to be a very expensive and time-consuming lawsuit. unfortunately the scumbags who ripped them off might very well be counting on the fact that they don't. and let's not forget that regardless of unconscionable ms. rico's (or whomever is actually behind this) actions are, they're still a drop in the bucket compared to the amoral shenanigans that ruben islas/amerland engaged in right across the street.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:30PM – #243

FLASH: KCLA Channel 5 TV cameras will be in front of the Must at 4:45 pm today. Tuesday.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:42PM – #244

#242 Very interesting last comment. Can you enlighten us more re:Ruben Islas

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:53PM – #246

#244 http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/28/local/me-alexandria28

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/community/alexandria-hotel-tenants-dont/

then this happened:

http://cbs13.com/local/five.charged.vallejo..html

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:54PM – #247

not sure i'm getting the gay humor.... would hope that in this day that sort of thing doesn't matter anymore. maybe i am being overly sensitive.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 04:56PM – #248

what would being gay have to do with anything?

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 05:04PM – #249

You know like when the news says, "A gang of Latino youths"...or... "a group of women were found...." The news always gives racial/ethnic/gender identity additions. But it's also funny. "The Pride Day included..."... Well this is ready made for TV drama at its very best, or perhaps most fun viewing at some point.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 05:21PM – #250

Ciscustop you did drag in SF "in the day", right? What happened via Hollywood and DT? Now there's a funny story I'm sure. Sort of a' la Ethel Mermon but bald? Perhaps the world is just a "gaggle of drag queens" and want-to-be drags. Dunno. But the humor in all this should not be overlooked. Script writers for TV get to your computers!! The red nails have just begun to get started. O my God were not in Kansas anymore...a friend of Dorthy.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 05:44PM – #252

In response to 239:

I live on 7th and I spoke to an officer the morning of the shooting and he told me it was drug territory related and possibly in direct relation to the previous shooting (about a month ago). Still nerve-racking.

I am also a regular patron at the MUST. They have all my support and love and I will help in any way I can to re-launch the business... and I will NOT support any new business involved in the closing of my -by far- favorite restaurant-bar in LA!!!

Downtown ROCKS

FP

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 05:51PM – #253

Weeneez' Yelp page - look at the Ratings Distribution chart. Click on trends. LOL.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 05:55PM – #254

Peaceful protests Thursday night during Art Walk:

"We love The Must, must have The Must."

Be sure your self-adhesive pieces use masking tape or other 'low tack' tape so as not to leave any marks on the exterior walls.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 06:27PM – #255

#257 You are so right NO ONE PERSON and NO ONE GROUP should be victimized just by association or because of idle gossip of postings on here, like what has been done. Sometimes its okay for some and then not for others. That's called "bad form". Civics class over. You got it.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 06:34PM – #257

Camp is sooooooo good.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 06:34PM – #258

So...I was just down there and the Must people were there getting interviewed by KTLA, and Julie called the cops! ha ha ha ha! God! The cops were like, "Uh...why are we here?" So Julie tried to get them in trouble standing in front of the place that SHE ransacked! Admittedly! Wow she just doesn't have a clue at all

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 06:39PM – #259

circustop, please don't call me old school, especially when i am on your side. i am quite young actually, just concerned that people without half a brain will start lashing out against "the gays" and stop being concerned about the issue.

not that i have to defend myself, but i am very out, and very proud. i do not look for straight approval, but i don't alienate myself from my straight community either. i get that you know a great deal of these posters personally, so this inside gay joke is funny to you, but there are over 200 posts here from people that don't know the sexual orientation of anyone involved. it was actually a non-issue, just like the orientation of anyone that has posted here yesterday or today. it is a non-issue, just like the ethnic backgrounds or social status of those same people.

funny was the guy who "can't find his glasses, who let Julie Rico into my loft?". your inside joke was funny but only to your small group.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 06:50PM – #260

I was very sad to see that the Must space was pillaged over the weekend. I for one will not be spending a dime in the new space, JP Lounge, once it opens. The Must was a great thriving night spot. I look forward to patronizing the Must in its future incarnation.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 07:25PM – #262

stick to the issue at hand people.. support the must in getting their business back and being able to open for this weeks profitable ART WALK..

bottom line..

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 07:27PM – #263

Greenwich had Stonewall, the Historic Core has The Must!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 07:32PM – #264

This is completely unacceptable. I eat at The Must at least once a week, and you can be sure that this new "Owner" will never EVER receive my business ever again should they open under a new name.

_ryan origin

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 07:34PM – #265

GLBTQ RIGHTS NOW! LESBIAN RIGHTS NOW! SUPPORT THE MUST! It's a "Must have"

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:37PM – #266

So the owners of the Must are having a fundraiser for their EMPLOYEES who had their jobs stripped from them in the middle of the night with no notice. There are flyers circulating downtown for this fundraiser and one was placed on the front door of the Must. Someone in there RIPPED IT DOWN!!!!! It's to help the people who LOST THEIR JOBS!!!! The kitchen staff, busboys, bar backs, and servers. THEY RIPPED IT DOWN!!! How cruel can people really be? This breaks my heart.

For those who have hearts, if you're free, the fundraiser is being held Saturday night at the Bank accross from Pete's from 7-11 in the evening. $20 at the door. Open bar. All proceeds go to the wonderful, screwed over employees of the Must.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:45PM – #267

This entire thread has gone from interesting to completely ridiculous.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 08:46PM – #268

It's awfully sweet that Julie is having Weeneez cater the benefit.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:14PM – #270

Friskie, you are speaking my language. It's a real small neighborhood.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:42PM – #271

California's unemployment rate is 10%. There are millions of people out there looking for jobs and can't find jobs. Businesses close every single day. People lose jobs every single day. I am terribly sorry for the employees of the Must and the owners but this happens every single day. Whether a fire or someone getting into an accident or sick. We are getting completely carried away. We should pool a group of investors together like Nickel Diner and help the owners get a new place.

I don't think #227 was implying that it doesn't cost money to open a business. I think what was meant that bars usually run up to 500k to start. The owners of the must leased the space from Weeneez and didn't have to put up that cost. Because they didn't have to put up all that money they theoretically didn't lose all that money when they were kicked out. And now that they have a such a strong following, they can put up that money now with less inherent risk because of all the good publicity this has gotten them.

No one is suggesting what happened was fair, ethical, or even legal. But instead of all the drama, we can help and invest in the Must and help them get back on their feet. Let them open a space in the Blackstone building and we can invest in them.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:56PM – #272

This story is absolutely appalling. Being a Landlord for several years, California law is clear in that regardless of any breach of contract, proper notice must be served and a complaint must be filed with the court. The tenant has every right to contest the complaint and if done so, would result in a trial date being set. Only after the issuance of a judgment by the court does the landlord (or master lessor in this matter) have the right to re-take possession of the premises. Further this process is to be carried out after a 5-day notice has been posted at the Premises AFTER the issuance of the judgment AND the Landlord must be accompanied by the Marshal during the eviction. This is no doubt a lengthy process (30-45 days or longer with the mandatory furloughs and cutbacks many public employees are facing in today’s economic climate). Needless to say it doesn’t happen at 2:30 AM. Once the Landlord has retaken possession of the premises, any personal property left in the space is subject to sale only after a notice of abandonment is posted at the premises. This allows for any creditors to claim any property that may be leased to the tenant. The final step is a public auction of the equipment held on-site. A pain-staking process for a Landlord...

It is unfortunate that this will most likely not be resolved in a timely fashion given the restraints of the legal system and I can only wish the best to the people that are negatively affected by this debacle. I pray that justice will be served and that the new owner will fail epically…but only after dumping loads of its own, hard-earned cash into the space making it a viable opportunity for the next ethical, law abiding tenant.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 09:56PM – #273

Drama Queens and Ruben? Don't mix the two. Ruben, you rock! More drama... channel 5 at 10 pm in .....

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:09PM – #274

to everyone that KEEPS suggesting the Blackstone, you really don't get it. their restaurant is smack in the middle of ArtWalk, you cannot recreate that type of revenue at 9th and Broadway which is not really jumping at night and definately not on ArtWalk. i don't want to seem rude, but what your suggesting is not the same, nor is it easy physically or economically.

it isn't so simple to just move a business, especially a restaurant that needs to pass inspections and get all sorts of permits, not to mention an expensive liquor liscense and inventory. why should The Must be expected to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest, when they had a wonderful and successful business they were operating legally?

it is not the bandaid that they need.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:28PM – #275

That's the point I am trying to make: they did not invest hundreds of thousands of dollars, did not get permitted, etc.......

That's why I am saying the silver lining to the situation is. They did not have to do any of that. So like EVERY other business they just need to do that. It is not easy. Yes. If luck was on their side they would not have had to do it. Your point on the location of the Blackstone is a good one, so then the Rowan.

My point is that they can get up from this fall and still survive. They did not lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Weeneez invested that money and they were renting that space from them without having to put up with all the pitfalls of starting a business. The must operated with Weeneez kitchen and their liquor license. And now that they have a loyal following, open up a new one

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:38PM – #276

KTLA just ran a news story explaining how The Must has been stolen from its owners.

Prominent photographs of Julie Rico displayed with notation that Grand Theft charges are pending if the belongings are not returned.

Everyone who has been paying attention to this story and spreading the word deserves credit for steering the mainstream media onto this. Keep it up.

Justice for The Must!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:39PM – #277

Julie Rico might just as well turn over the space to The Must. With all the bad publicity and ill will generated by her sleaziness, there's no way the new business she and her slimeball partners want to foist on the neighborhood will survive.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:47PM – #278

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2010/07/06/news/doc4c339c25455cc611592836.txt

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:48PM – #279

I wish someone had dragged the victim of the shooting on Spring St to The Must!

Then.....the 2 biggest stories in Downtown would get equal attention.

A hail of bullets rain across your neighborhood, leaving blood in the streets and someone near death...no one cares. Your favorite drinking spot closes.....raise hell !

LOVE The Must...but can we please at least get a story regarding something as serious as someone getting gunned down on 6th & Spring?!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 10:49PM – #280

@ 275.. Are you an idiot, or the new "owner" of the spot? The owners of the Must should not be expected to have to invest a ton of money on a new place (all while they lose a ton of income from being closed illegally) just because they made a smart business decision to open up at a place where their lease offered the set up location, the liquor license and what ever else may have been included. That is not how things work. What are you failing to see here? Just because they have done well does not mean they should being willing to accept being closed down under these shady circumstances. You are obviously highly biased and delusional..

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:03PM – #281

anyone who saw the space before the Must moved in knows that they were the one's who invested all the money...that place was such a shit hole before. they're gonna be back. they have to be. this is not right. julie rico should probably move over sea's. love this community so much. pretty clear who the community wants around

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:04PM – #282

Is Eric in a straightjacket somewhere?

So nice that comments on a thread haven't been censored down to dust for a change, allowing discourse to finally take place in this ugly duckling of a village.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:18PM – #283

#279, while you are very correct, it is extremely important to know about what happened with the shooting...... you don't come and read an article about The Must and expect to hear all the news of the day. the article is specific about The Must, as are the comments. if you would like to start a dialogue about the shooting, then ask blogdowntown to write and article about it so that we can post and dialogue about that. please don't make us all out to be insensitive because we are focusing on the article above and not the shooting the same night. we all care, but this is not about the shooting.....

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:23PM – #285

I just saw the whole thing on the 10:00 pm news. What next? Live at Pershing Square alien attack! Library Tower built on Lego foundation! Pie Boy runs for DLANC President! Quick Twitter Julie Rico sighting at 7th & Fig! We've realy made it now folks loft prices will be booming.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:26PM – #286

#285, while your at it, let's bring back throngs of homeless, drug dealers and gangs too.... sounds great, we should all work hard to keep downtown as gritty and nearly uninhabitable as it was during the "glory days" of starving artists and abandoned buildings and extreme gang warfare.

seriously, why do so many people have a problem with the positive change that is happening downtown? i know some awesome hotels in skid row that you can live in if your homesick and why not King Eddy's if your longing for a real dive bar.... it's right down the street!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:32PM – #288

oh, #285, don't forget Monte Carlo for breakfast & lunch, it's also right down the street. if you must skip a halfway decent establishment because of "the yuppy" invasion you can live your prefered life in these venues..... have fun!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:32PM – #289

Pie Boy for President!

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:34PM – #290

No. 279 -- Why do you care so much about a drug dealer getting gunned down in the middle of the night? Did you not know what area you were moving into?

East Coast Crips and Fifth and Hill are real gangs, not hipster wanttobes. A turf war could get real ugly if the summer heats up. All the hipsters represent a fresh market as do the crowds coming to the bars that have proliferated.

A shooting will make the news when it happens at one of the hispter bars, until then...same old story.

Guest on July 06, 2010, at 11:59PM – #293

"#292" it is very telling what you choose to focus on. there is a new police headquarters, amazing new restaurants, new retail and plenty of new condos and apartments. artwalk is growing, there is a new cross fit down the street, furniture stores, even your art store.... why would you choose to focus on bars alone? or even the price of those drinks? it just makes you sound like you have an axe to grind.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 12:02AM – #294

The MUST rented a space that was completely done, did not go through permitting issues, did not apply for a liquor license and did this through Weeneez.

They rented out the space to do business, knowing that Weeneez owned the lease to both spaces, owned the liquor license, and built the entire space.

I am not saying Julie Rico was correct in doing this. But this feud has been going on for over a year! They have had all their disputes. Julie was trying to sell the space for months on whatever that website was. They even had friends do walk throughs.

Homes get foreclosed on. Even the wrong homes. People get into car accidents. People get laid off.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 02:16AM – #296

100% agreed that THE MUST provided that component that made the space successful. But they did not lose hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on buildout, permitting, and licensing like everyone else.

I agree it is not right but they can survive this. Open another spot so that we can become customers of that space. That's it.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 11:29AM – #301

Julie, Valencia would probably be a good place for you and your bad taste. PLEASE move, no one wants you anywhere near DTLA.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 01:24PM – #303

It takes two to tango.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 01:38PM – #304

WOW!!!

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=dba24110-004c-43a5-813b-7662c7cd88da

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 01:54PM – #305

Carnival Ride: Lies and more lies. Maybe you need another Mandarin throne. Same people, same sad lies. Sad but obvious who it is.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 03:10PM – #306

lindsy,

this is exactly what ms. rico is expecting. that this new endeavor, jp loung, will fail. it is what she did to Lime when she sold them her red dot cafe, and what she just did to The Must, though her regular modes of operation didn't work- so since The Must was successful she had to plan this hostile takeover.... i would be very leary if i were mr. holtzman, very..... sus días están contados.

Guest on July 07, 2010, at 07:09PM – #308

...and to the Sing-Sing Prison school of culinary arts. convenient!