Anybody know more than what was in the paper this morning? Looks like a nasty spat.

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_403e6e1f-64fd-55d7-8704-9e955850ee56.html

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[This message has been edited by TexAgs staff (edited 12/3/2013 12:56p).]

Haters gonna hate.

It seems a legit conversation for discussion board about BCS.

It seems the developer may not have negotiated in good faith.

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[This message has been edited by TexAgs staff (edited 12/3/2013 12:56p).]

The last time I dined there it seems the employees had already given up the ghost anyway.

The article wasn't clear what was being disputed - is this dispute over parking spaces?

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The restraining order request accompanied a motion for temporary injunction filed on behalf of the restaurant against the city, Asset Plus and the Research Valley Partnership, which has been facilitating the sale for the city, claiming that Asset Plus revoked offers to lease space to Cafe Eccell on Friday.

The move came after Cafe Eccell sent the city an offer to purchase the property on Nov. 13 after learning from Asset Plus that it did not intend to reserve parking spaces for Cafe Eccell customers despite previous agreements to do so, according to the court records.

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From what it sounds like in the article, the new owners of the property were going to lease out a section of the parking lot for the Eccell Group to use. They backed out of that promise at one point and are now no longer going to provide any parking area to the Eccell Group. Eccell is contesting the issue and that's what's holding up the process.

Interesting...

The building that Fitzwilly's was in was sold and the new owners didn't renew their lease, allowing the EccellGroup to go in and open a new restaurant.

Now the Cafe Eccell land is sold and the new owners might not be renewing Cafe Excell's lease.

Is that right, or did I remember that first part incorrectly?

interesting. Seems Eccell should have bought the land

Their agreement with the City has been on a year-to-year basis for quite some time now and this event is not a surprise to Eccel. If they would go back to the restaurant they were in the 80’s I could care if the City made a deal to keep them afloat. It is probably too late for that.

The last few times I have eaten there I have found it to be too pricey for the food & service that you get. Napa Flats has a similar menu, better service, more seating, easier parking and access and lower prices. Café Eccel seems to want to serve a moderate quality Mediterranean menu and charge prices like Maddens, Christopher’s and The Republic. It just isn't worth it. They are not in that niche.

Yup.

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The last few times I have eaten there I have found it to be too pricey for the food & service that you get. Napa Flats has a similar menu, better service, more seating, easier parking and access and lower prices. Café Eccel seems to want to serve a moderate quality Mediterranean menu and charge prices like Maddens, Christopher’s and The Republic. It just isn't worth it. They are not in that niche.

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Techno, please keep posting articles like this. I'm in Houston and usually check this board for BCS news.

I don't read the news page. I read this board hoping that anything of note will be posted here. But thanks for tips on how to use the internet.

fcag, I was thinking the same thing.

Edit to add: I don't know if the building actually sold, but the lease to Fitz's wasn't renewed, to let the Eccell folks in.

[This message has been edited by BlueMiles (edited 12/3/2013 2:01p).]

My apologies. You were serious. I've never seen that page and just looked at it.

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Techno, please keep posting articles like this. I'm in Houston and usually check this board for BCS news.

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I live here and check KBTX or The Eagle if I want local news. If I want Houston news, I go to a Houston news website. It would not seem logical for me to go to the TexAgs Houston forum to look for news links when with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks I could go to an actual news site.

Well the restaurant has been such an institution for such a long time, it'll be sad to see it go if the day comes.

Exactly well. I come here to find something that might not have made it in the news, not be shown something already in the news.

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Well the restaurant has been such an institution for such a long time, it'll be sad to see it go if the day comes.

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Eh. It was tough for Aggies at first when Rudder made all those changes too. People will survive and adjust.

The Boyett family owns the old Fitzwilly's property. Fitzwilly's sold the rest of their lease to the owners of the new bar there. Fitzwilly's made a killing on selling the lease according to a real estate agent I know. The Boyetts were livid. If I was Cafe Eccell, I would move to maybe Downtown Bryan. They would fit in perfectly with Lemon Wedge, Maddens, and The Village.

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Fitzwilly's sold the rest of their lease to the owners of the new bar there. Fitzwilly's made a killing on selling the lease according to a real estate agent I know. The Boyetts were livid.

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This goes against everything I've heard. I think your friend is confusing the Boyetts and fitz's in the order of what happened.

This guy knew all of this first hand. I think maybe you have heard something from the other side.

Thanks for the info dgonzo.

Considering it's all hearsay.



And I never did figure out what was so great about Café Eccel.

"If I was Cafe Eccell, I would move to maybe Downtown Bryan. They would fit in perfectly with Lemon Wedge, Maddens, and The Village."

yeah… they could move next door to Mr. G's.. that way they can share their parking spaces…

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And I never did figure out what was so great about Café Eccel.

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Duh, the strawberry tart.

Eccel group is getting a taste of their own medicine. Dirty players.

i do miss their fridge case full of desserts u could pick out…

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i do miss their fridge case full of desserts u could pick out…

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Agreed! That was allsome back in the day. Many a great date started at CafEcc.

T&P for nostalgia over fridge-cases full of desserts deprivation.

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Eccel group is getting a taste of their own medicine. Dirty players.

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In what sense? If you are referring to the Fitzwilly's deal you clearly have zero to utterly inaccurate information.

They paid Fitzwilly's, even though they didnt have to, since they had a relationship with them. The landlord wanted Fitzwilly's out of the building and that was why there were on a month to month lease. The building needed at least $200,000 in repairs and upgrades due to neglect.

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Eccel group is getting a taste of their own medicine. Dirty players.

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In what sense? If you are referring to the Fitzwilly's deal you clearly have zero to utterly inaccurate information.

They paid Fitzwilly's, even though they didnt have to, since they had a relationship with them. The landlord wanted Fitzwilly's out of the building and that was why there were on a month to month lease. The building needed at least $200,000 in repairs and upgrades due to neglect.

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Glad to see someone from eccel group coke to the thread to clear things up...

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They paid Fitzwilly's, even though they didnt have to, since they had a relationship with them. The landlord wanted Fitzwilly's out of the building and that was why there were on a month to month lease.

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This makes absolutely zero sense.

A month to month lease has literally no value, assuming it is assignable in the first place.

And if the landlord wants the tenant out, all he has to do is give 30 days notice that he isn't renewing said month to month lease, assuming the landlord is not in default in some way or form.

Actually, it makes complete sense. They offered to buy the business itself, not the lease, as a goodwill gesture due to a long relationship with the family that owned it and due to the father of the current owner being a close friend. (he passed away a few years ago)

toughtaco, you are completely right!!!!!!