Chili’s Restaurant At American Airlines Center Abruptly Closes After Dispute Between Franchisee, Landlord
The operator of the Chili’s Grill & Bar at American Airlines Center hastily closed the restaurant down late Thursday, less than two weeks before the Dallas Stars’ preseason opener.
Base Holdings LLC, a company launched by entrepreneur Gilbert Aranza, shuttered the 10-month-old restaurant, removing furniture and equipment, after an ongoing dispute with Center Operating Co., according to Richard Pullman, the attorney for Base.
Center Operating serves as the landlord for American Airlines Center.
“Of course, we are disappointed that the franchisee has closed the store that everyone hoped would attract new customers to Victory Park,” Brad Mayne, president of Center Operating Co. said in a statement. “COC has been working diligently for several months to assist the restaurant operator and continue the Chili’s operations. Therefore, we were surprised that this action was taken and especially that it occurred in this manner.”
Pullman painted a picture of a beleaguered franchisee who, along with other investors, sunk $2.8 million into opening the Chili’s on the ground floor of American Airlines Center, only to be hamstrung by a host of logistical issues.
One key concern, Pullman said, was that on nights with no events scheduled, Chili’s patrons could not park in the lot closest to the restaurant, though going into the lease, Aranza believed that they could.
Also, the entrance closest to Chili’s, leading out onto the adjacent plaza, was blocked off during several key events, making it much harder for diners to get into the restaurant, Pullman said.
The problems, and the general lack of traffic in the Victory Park area, pushed Base into bankruptcy in July.
A complaint filed by Center Operating Co. with the bankruptcy court said that as of May 13, Base Holdings had “failed to pay Center …$157,666.27” for rent from October, when the restaurant originally planned to open, through May.
