Popular Winter Park restaurant shuts down; owner blames landlord

WINTER PARK, Fla. — A restaurant owner and a landlord in downtown Winter Park are embroiled in a legal dispute.

A sign in the Park Plaza Gardens restaurant read “rat infestation,” and the owner told Channel 9's Julie Salomone that she placed the sign in the window to explain why the business closed 10 months ago.

Michelle Heatherly, director of marketing with Demetree Global, showed Channel 9's Julie Salomone some of the conditions in which she said employees were forced to work, pointing out fallen ceiling tiles, water damage and rat traps.

Mary Demetree has owned the restaurant for 16 years.

Heatherly said the restaurant has been a staple on Park Avenue with its garden dining area.

“It’s devastation for her (Demetree). It’s been frustrating. We wanted to get these issues resolved amicably. We tried and tried, so we then had to move forward with a lawsuit,” Heatherly said.

Demetree sued the landlord in June 2016. According to court documents, Demetree, (the tenant), noticed for months that rodents were in and around the premises. Documents go on to say the landlord breached the lease by failing to address the rodent issue and maintain the water lines and pipes in the building.

Documents state Park Plaza Gardens shut down in 2013 temporarily after the state found rodent droppings and other issues.

Eyewitness News tried to contact the attorney representing the landlord, Park Avenue Plaza of Winter Park LTD, but we have not heard back.

An attorney for the landlord wrote a letter in 2016 strongly objecting to allegations that a rat infestation led to the closure of the restaurant, according to court documents.

The attorney blamed food behind coolers for attracting the rats. The attorney went on to suggest the restaurant never replaced cooler doors to keep moisture from leaking out.

“Hopefully we can get this resolved. It's drawn on and on we'd love to bring it to a close,” Heatherly said.

Eyewitness News also reached out to the property manager, who declined to comment.

Cox Media Group