A former Harrison restaurant is demanding $4 million from a landlord that allegedly locked it out of the business illegally last year after Valentine’s Day.
Two 7 Three Kitchen Corp. accused Auburndale Properties Inc. of wrongful eviction, in a complaint filed on Feb. 13 in Westchester Supreme Court.
The lockout, the complaint states, has caused “loss of customers, loss of reputation, and loss of revenues.”
Constantine Kalandranis formed Two 7 Three Kitchen Corp. in 2015. He opened 273 Kitchen on the first floor of a 3-story building at 273 Halstead Ave., Harrison. Later, he renamed it The Greekish.
The restaurant leased the space from Q&Y 15 Inc. for five years. In 2023 the lease was extended for five years, through May 2028.
Q&Y 15 Inc. sold the building in December 2023 to an affiliate of Auburndale Properties Inc., of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, for $1.5 million, according to a property record.
Early last year the space was being renovated for Valentine’s Day and restaurant week, according to the complaint, and everyone knew that the owner wanted to sell the business or rebrand the restaurant.
But when the restauranter tried to enter the business on Feb. 16, he discovered that the locks had been changed.
The restaurant had paid the monthly rent as it came due, the complaint states, and the landlord had given no notice of an eviction.
Since the lockout, the business claims it has been unable to get back a $12,000 security deposit or reclaim furniture, fixture and equipment valued at $250,000.
Two 7 Three Kitchen Corp. accused Auburndale Properties Inc. of wrongful eviction and conversion; breach of contract; breach of lease; and negligent conduct.
It is demanding $1 million for each alleged violation, unspecified punitive damages, return of the $12,000 security deposit, and the right to enter the building to collect its property.
Auburndale Properties did not reply to an email asking for its responses to the allegations.
Two 7 Three Kitchen Corp. is represented by White Plains attorney Michael J. Raneri.
