Mark LaGrange, the longtime owner of Edison’s Pub in Tremont, has taken back possession of the bar from Hangry Brands, he says.
“I closed the bar yesterday morning,” he explains. “I went and changed the locks.”
Late last year, Hangry Brands announced that it had purchased Edison’s Pub (2373 Professor St.), which has been a neighborhood staple for roughly 40 years. But now, less than a year later, the bar is back in the hands of its previous owner.
“We took it back because I had a security agreement and he didn’t make payments to me,” says LaGrange.
Reached for comment, Hangry Brands responded with the following statement:
“We’re not going to get into the specific deal terms, those stay between the parties. What we can tell you is that ownership has returned to the prior owner and Edison’s continues in its historic format.”
Yes and no, says LaGrange. Presently, Edison’s Pub remains closed as the owner scrambles to reclaim possession of all the things necessary to restart and run the business. He no longer has access to the POS system, the social media feeds and the Google listing. Even the website is dead, he adds.
“I’m dead determined to save Edisons Pub,” LaGrange says. “The neighborhood’s pushing for me, the employees are pushing for me.”
If all goes as hoped, the bar could reopen by the weekend.
For their part, Hangry states that the outcome was a tactical one, according to the prepared statement.
“Our decision on Edison’s Pub reflects our strategic growth plan of continued consolidation on our efforts on the downtown Cleveland Gateway and Playhouse Square areas. Returning the establishment to its previous owner was an opportunity to ensure the community can continue to preserve a historic institution in its historic format.”
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