Lawsuit over former Saucy property

SANDUSKY — A local property owner is suing a Cleveland business and its Sandusky subsidiary. Sandusky Renaissance Properties filed suit on July 10. The entity is suing Saucy Brew Works, of Cleveland, and Saucy Brew Works Sandusky. Both of these companies have headquarters in the 2800 block of Detroit Ave. in Cleveland. In its complaint, the plaintiff claims Saucy Brew Works Sandusky broke its lease, and the parent company is on the hook for the remainder of the agreed-upon rents. On or about May 1, 2022, Saucy Brew Works Sandusky entered into a lease agreement with the plaintiff, and the Saucy parent company served as guarantor. That is a person or entity that is responsible for another entity's debt or obligation if the primary is unable to pay. The restaurant opened on May 27, 2022. The lease was for 121 months, or a little over 10 years, according to a civil complaint filed in Erie County Common Pleas Court. The defendants were also required to pay the real estate taxes and insurance premiums for the two premises leased, according to the suit. Two units at 215 E. Water St. and one unit in 217 E. Water St., comprised the properties leased by the defendants, the suit states. The lease permitted the tenant to operate only a brewery, restaurant and coffee shop at the premises. The first month's rent was $6,000. That payment is described as a security deposit in the lease. For the remaining ten years of the lease, the rent was pegged at $5,500 per month. On Nov. 29, the lease was modified by an amendment that lessened the amount of space rented in the 217 E. Water St. unit. That amendment lowered the rent $1,143 to $4,357 per month. On Dec. 29, Saucy announced through social media that it would be closing for the winter season. The suit says Saucy announced it would reopen in April, but that language is not included in the social media post. A second amendment was signed in March, when Saucy wished to relinquish the tenancy of the remaining portion of the 217 E. Water St. unit. Monthly rent was then lowered to $4,000, the suit states. "Since announcing the winter closing, (the establishment's) subsequent actions and lease amendments made clear that it had no intention of resuming operations at the premises, such that (the establishment) has abandoned the premises," the suit states. Saucy last paid rent in December, though that was a late payment for October, according to the complaint. The suit asks for more than $25,000 in damages. Google lists the Sandusky location as temporarily closed. Saucy's website does not list the Sandusky location. Only the Put-in-Bay, Ohio City, Pinecrest and Columbus locations are listed. The Sandusky location's social media page is still listed; however, the link to its website from the social media site is a broken link. Attorneys for Saucy Brew Works had not filed an answer to the complaint as of late Friday. Sweet Cheekz Cafe N Bistro now occupies a portion of the former Saucy site. Sandusky provided more than $47,000 in economic development funds. In exchange for the funds, Saucy was required to employ at least 18 full-time employees. The funds were distributed to Saucy once the refurbishment of the interior of the building was complete. Granting the monies to the business did not come with a stipulation that it must remain open for a set amount of time or be forced to pay back some or all of the money.