Sandwhich and 3Cups reopened on Tuesday, two days after Courtyard owner Spencer Young changed the locks on the doors and posted a letter claiming the businesses had failed to pay $85,000 in rent.
The West Franklin Street businesses have had an ongoing dispute with Young regarding parking, claiming that he has failed to provide parking that he agreed to provide in the lease. Most of the parking behind the Courtyard is owned by P.H. Craig, and Young has refused to pay Craig rent for the spaces, so Craig has blocked off the parking.
Because of the parking dispute, Lex Alexander, owner of 3Cups, said he has been putting rent into an escrow account instead of paying Young.
If mr. Craig does indeed own the land , then he is entitled to collect rent. Seems like a simple problem. New Yorkers should understand the value of parking spaces. They are certainly not free anywhere in New York