'Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit' posted on former Old Town Elk Grove Slow and Low restaurant
Are Elk Grove taxpayers as risk of default on the $500,000 loan guarantee?
A visit to the former Old Town Elk Grove restaurant Slow and Low revealed a notice posted on the door by the building's owner.
The "Three Day Notice To Pay Rent or Quit" notice was posted on February 24. It notifies the principal of the now-closed Slow and Low restaurant, Mr. Michael Hargis, that the facility's rent has yet to be paid.
The notices say that Hargin owes rent for January and February. Including the back rent, late fees, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), Hargis is said to owe the landlord, D & S Development of Sacramento, $71,534.
The Slow and Low restaurant opened to substantial hype by the city of Elk Grove last May as a keystone to transforming the Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove special planning area into a significant regional draw. Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said the long-beleaguered neighborhood could become a major tourist attraction similar to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.
In addition to the hype by the city's economic development director, Darrell Doan, the city provided Hargis with a $500,000 loan guarantee. Elk Grove city manager Jason Berhrmann was contacted via email to see if this notice affects the loan guarantee.
When the restaurant ceased operation in late December, it was announced that noted Bay Area restauranteur Matthew Horn of Horn Barbeque would take over the space and begin operating by early March. This morning's visit to the site showed no activity that Horn Barbeque has initiated, which would indicate it is not close to opening.
Horn Barbeque's Instagram page announced the restaurant's opening in Elk Grove would be in February. However, the page has not been updated since January 18 (see below).
Behrmann has not responded to the inquiry as of this posting. This story will be updated if a response is received.
After Slow and Low closed, Behrmann said during a city council meeting that the change of restaurant operators did not put taxpayers at risk. See Behrmann's comments in the video below.
