Pastry Express: A Family-Owned Bakery Forced Out by Unfair Eviction
A Family Business and a Community Asset
Cuban bread, pastelitos, and empanadas are just a few of the bakery items manufactured at Pastry Express, a family-owned industrial bakery that once operated inside a building in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood.
The Eviction
In August 2022, the City of Miami evicted Pastry Express after deeming the building an unsafe structure, leaving 35 employees, most from Little Haiti or Hialeah, without a job.
A History of Boycott
The owners, Jose Molina and Raul Ortiz de la Renta, claim that the landlord, LRMF, abused the 40-year recertification process to evict them, years before their lease was up.
Evidence of Misconduct
According to the lawsuit, LRMF hired the engineering firm Plaza and Associates to inspect the building as part of the recertification process. However, instead of making necessary repairs, the firm handed the city a report deeming the building unsafe, leading to the eviction.
Conspiracy Allegations
The owners of Pastry Express claim that LRMF manufactured the situation, and that the report was tailored to fit their needs, with the goal of removing the tenant and making way for a neighborhood development project. This project, according to the lawsuit, does not jibe with the operation of the industrial factory and bakery business.
The Courts
In court records, Grupo Sur alleges that LRMF discussed in internal memos feeling confident they could control the engineering firm to provide them with the exact report they needed. The engineering firm, however, denied the allegations.
The Aftermath
The owners of Grupo Sur claim that they were never able to return to the building, not even to retrieve their equipment, and that the eviction destroyed a family business that took 19 years to build. They are not anti-development, but feel the way they were removed was wrong.
Conclusion
The story of Pastry Express highlights the struggles faced by small businesses and the importance of fair treatment in the face of development. The owners of Pastry Express hope that their case will serve as an example of the need for transparency and accountability in the face of eviction and development.
FAQs
Q: What is the nature of the lawsuit filed by Pastry Express?
A: The lawsuit alleges that LRMF abused the 40-year recertification process to evict Pastry Express, and that the engineering firm’s report was tailored to fit LRMF’s needs.
Q: What is the alleged goal of the development project by LRMF?
A: The lawsuit claims that the project does not jibe with the operation of the industrial factory and bakery business.
Q: What was the reaction of the engineering firm involved in the situation?
A: The engineering firm declined to comment, but denied the allegations in court.
Q: What is the claim of Pastry Express’s owners regarding the destruction of their business?
A: The owners claim that the eviction destroyed a family business that took 19 years to build, and that they were never able to return to the building.
