Is Starbucks going to replace the French Market? That’s a rumor that’s been making its rounds in recent weeks, and it’s also the most recent sticking point in an ongoing dispute between French Market co-owner Allen Tate and building owner Rick Dover*.
The short answer is no. Starbucks isn’t going into the space currently operated by the renowned French Market eatery. But a Starbucks will open in the same building, in the lobby of the Hyatt Place hotel, once current renovation work is wrapped up about this time next year, Dover says.
That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill, and Tate has been vocal on social media over concerns that Dover is trying to squeeze his business out of the space it’s occupied since 2008. Taking to the French Market’s Twitter and Facebook yesterday, he posted a handful of updates accusing Dover of “trying to force us out of business and cancel our longterm [sic] lease without compensation!,” among other things.
Tate alleges that Dover Development has made a number of slights aimed at his business after the two parties failed to come to an agreement about the French Market either relocating or renegotiating their current lease agreement, which Tate says doesn’t expire until 2023. Dover declined to comment on any negotiations, but said he felt most all of the concerns were related to nuisances caused by the extensive renovation and construction work ongoing in the 10-story building.
“We’re absolutely not trying to squeeze him out,” Dover says. “The French Market is a great tenant. They’re an asset for downtown and I don’t want to get crossways with them. I’m sure they’re frustrated [with the construction] and I’m very sorry for the inconvenience.”
Tate says that’s not true, alleging Dover or his workers have gone as far as calling in complaints against the restaurant (which he co-owns with his wife, Susan) with the county health department, city code enforcement, and the fire marshal. He also says Dover has done a number of things to make business more difficult, like relocating garbage cans, rescinding a sidewalk seating agreement, and undertaking some disruptive construction work without notice.
“It’s just typical landlord intimidation,” Tate says.
Dover says he’s asked building officials for “rulings on a number of things throughout the building, and that includes the French Market space as well.” He notes that the entire building will need to be brought up to current building code as part of the renovation work.
City records show the most recent building complaint against the property was filed on March 13, 2015, over graffiti tags on its exterior. There are no records of complaints specific to the French Market.
Knox County Health Department did receive an unnamed complaint about the restaurant in early May detailing 12 alleged health violations. (Health Department officials are currently checking whether the complaint was made anonymously, and if not, if they can legally identify the person that made the complaint.) According to an inspection report, health officials checked out all of those during a walkthrough on May 16 that took about 40 minutes. It noted no serious violations or health issues. On May 11 the French Market received a health score rating of 99.
We called the city’s fire marshal office and will update when we hear back.
UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: A Knoxville fire inspector did a “routine” inspection of the French Market on July 1, city documents show. A handful of minor violations were noted, and the restaurant was given three weeks to fix those issues. The inspection was not triggered by a complaint, according to city fire officials.
City spokesman Eric Vreeland says that city officials have been aware of the ongoing dispute between Dover and Tate, but the city isn’t directly involved. He says downtown coordinator Rick Emmett has had some discussions in recent weeks with both parties seeking a compromise.
In April, Dover Development and White Lodging announced plans to turn the nearly 100-year-old Farragut Hotel building into a 165-room Hyatt Place hotel. The city’s industrial development board approved a 25-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement that could save the developer $7.29 million. Dover says he hopes renovation work, totaling about $20 million, will be completed by spring 2017.
*Okay, so technically the building is owned by the Industrial Development Board as part of the PILOT agreement, but for all practical purposes Dover is the owner, and the paperwork reverts to his name once the PILOT term expires.
Former Mercury staff reporter Clay Duda has covered gangs in New York, housing busts in Atlanta, and wildfires in Northern California. And lots of stuff about Knoxville.
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