Salt7 Owner Speaks Out After Fort Lauderdale Restaurant Eviction

Background of the Eviction

The owner of Las Olas hot spot Salt7 is speaking up after Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies this week evicted the high-end restaurant from Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk. John Kostoglou and his waterfront steakhouse-nightclub at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd., on the ground floor of the Icon Las Olas tower, have been embroiled in a lawsuit with the landlord over unpaid rent. At issue: use of a boat docking area on the Riverwalk, which Salt7 says it was promised and which the landlord has disputed, calling the claim “laughable” and “brazen” in court filings.

Employee Allegations

There also have been accusations of owed wages, withheld tips, and bounced checks by current and former chefs and waitstaff, who vented their frustrations on social media in past weeks. A local news affiliate, WPLG-Ch. 10, reported a handful of these employee allegations, and Kostoglou on Wednesday told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that most — but not all — are untrue.

The high-profile Salt7 on the tony Las Olas strip in Fort Lauderdale, seen here on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, opened in January 2021. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Financial Setbacks

The public employee backlash caps months of financial setbacks stemming from a Dec. 5 civil complaint filed by Salt7’s landlord, Loyca Property Owner LLC, against Kostoglou for $505,339 in back-owed rent. Kostoglou confirmed to the Sun Sentinel that he stopped paying rent in October, and also said he owed “a certain amount” of money to at least one of Salt7’s food vendors, Premier Produce.

Lease Agreement and Bankruptcy

Kostoglou opened the high-profile Salt7 on the tony Las Olas strip in January 2021, hiring “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 9 winner Paul Niedermann as its executive chef for both the Fort Lauderdale location and a second on Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue. The Delray Beach location shuttered last June when he sold it to Ohio’s One Hospitality Group, which then partnered with SubCulture Group to open Kapow! Noodle Bar, Kostoglou said. Ivan J. Reich, the attorney representing Salt7, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, listing $1 million in assets and up to $10 million in debts, according to records.

Court Filings and Eviction

In a Jan. 21 court filing, the landlord described the motion as a “stunt” to avoid paying, and also alleged Salt7 made “false promises that payment would be forthcoming.” A federal bankruptcy court on March 7 appeared to side with Loyca and dismissed the Chapter 11 case, clearing the way for the eviction, according to court filings. This 2021 file photo shows people gathered at the Fort Lauderdale hot spot Salt7, on the ground floor of the Icon Las Olas tower. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)

Dockage Rights Dispute

Loyca’s position has been that so-called “dockage rights” aren’t guaranteed in Salt7’s lease and were “intentionally carved out.” Reich said his client signed the original 2018 lease agreement because it promised access to Salt7’s dock on Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk, which Kostoglou considered vital for attracting high-paying boaters and making revenue through dockage fees. A view of Salt7’s iconic spot along the New River in Fort Lauderdale, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Conclusion

The dispute between Salt7 and its landlord has led to the eviction of the high-end restaurant from Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk. The owner, John Kostoglou, has spoken out about the allegations and the financial setbacks that led to the eviction. The future of Salt7 remains uncertain, but Kostoglou has stated that he still has an active counterclaim against his landlord.

FAQs

• Q: Why was Salt7 evicted from Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk?
  A: Salt7 was evicted due to a dispute with its landlord over unpaid rent and the use of a boat docking area on the Riverwalk.
• Q: What are the allegations against Salt7?
  A: There have been allegations of owed wages, withheld tips, and bounced checks by current and former employees.
• Q: What is the status of Salt7’s bankruptcy case?
  A: The Chapter 11 bankruptcy case was dismissed by a federal bankruptcy court, clearing the way for the eviction.
• Q: What is the future of Salt7?
  A: The future of Salt7 remains uncertain, but the owner has stated that he still has an active counterclaim against his landlord.
  Originally Published: April 3, 2025 at 7:08 PM EDT