Little Haiti’s Pastry Express Sues Landlord Over Eviction
Revitalization or Gentrification: The Truth Behind Little Haiti’s Transformation
Over the past few years, many South Florida neighborhoods have undergone significant change, including Little Haiti. A real-estate investment group has purchased several properties with the intention of developing the area, but one small business is fighting back, claiming wrongful eviction.
A Family Legacy in Peril
On a chilly winter day, Raul Ortiz de la Renta and Jose Molina stood in silence, reflecting on what once was their family-owned bakery, Pastry Express, in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood.
"’It’s very sad, it’s very disappointing, and it’s a really bad feeling," Molina said.
"This project was a life project for us," lamented Ortiz de la Renta.
A Questionable Eviction
In court records, the businessmen allege that they, along with over 30 employees, were evicted from the bakery in 2022, when the city of Miami deemed the building an unsafe structure based on an engineering report ordered by the new owner of the building, LRMF. The report was allegedly biased and superficial, and the landlord allegedly used it to justify eviction.
"They hired an engineering firm that they could control. And we actually have emails saying that they hired someone that we could control. And they did a very superficial cursory report, which they allowed the landlord to doctor," said Robert Stok, an attorney representing Pastry Express.
A Lawsuit Against LRMF
Pastry Express filed a lawsuit against LRMF, alleging that the landlord abused the 40-year recertification process to evict them, years before their lease was up, because they wanted to rent the building to a more lucrative tenant. The owners claim that LRMF was shopping the property to upscale clients, such as Apple Music and Live Nation, to fit their development plans.
"They were showing the property to companies like Apple Music and Live Nation, and they were advertising it and trying to bring in a different type of tenancy," said Stok.
A Recent Court Ruling
A Miami-Dade judge recently granted Pastry Express’ request to add a claim for civil theft against LRMF, alleging that the landlord sold the bakery’s equipment after the eviction, making it impossible for the owners to recover their losses.
"They made it impossible for us to sell it, and we found out later on they had sold the equipment themselves," said Ortiz de la Renta.
The Future of Pastry Express
The NBC6 Investigative team attempted to speak with an LRMF representative, but they declined to comment on the case. Pastry Express’ owners remain hopeful that they will prevail in their lawsuit and receive the compensation they need to revive their business.
"I believe that we eventually will prevail, and hopefully we’ll get the compensation we need in order to get our business back," said Ortiz de Renta.
FAQs
- What is the dispute between Pastry Express and LRMF about?
Pastry Express, a family-owned bakery, is suing LRMF, the new owner of the building, over allegations of wrongful eviction and breach of contract. - What is the background of the case?
Pastry Express has been operating in Little Haiti for over 15 years, but LRMF evicted them in 2022, citing safety concerns based on an engineering report. The owners claim the report was biased and used to justify eviction. - What is the current status of the case?
A Miami-Dade judge has granted Pastry Express’ request to add a claim for civil theft against LRMF, alleging that the landlord sold the bakery’s equipment after the eviction. The case is ongoing.
