Last week, Houston’s high-profile Thirteen restaurant, associated with NBA star James Harden, abruptly closed its doors and suspended operations indefinitely. A notice posted on the entrance cited an outstanding debt of more than $2 million in rent and related expenses. According to Click2Houston, the unpaid rent alone amounts to $2,217,430.05.
Thirteen Hospitality Group, LLC, the operator of the restaurant, entered into a lease agreement with the landlord of Midtown Scouts Square Property on July 29, 2020. The five-year lease included provisions for operating a restaurant, bar, and VIP lounge, with the agreement set to run through July of this year, KHOU reports. However, issues followed when both parties signed a lease extension on July 17, adding 13 Strikes as an additional party to the agreement. As part of the terms, James Harden provided a rent guarantee in the event of tenant default. According to reports, the tenants did not make timely monthly payments and failed to pay additional rent based on gross sales.
The conflict escalated when the restaurant was accused of breaching the lease by not maintaining the premises in line with the City of Houston and fire codes, culminating in the landlord's firm action of terminating the lease. The repercussions of this termination have been outlined in court documents, detailing the expectation for the recovery of overdue monthly payments and all subsequent installments through the lease's end in October. It has been stipulated in court documents that "James Harden may be served in person at his residence, his place of business, or wherever he is found," as per report by Click2Houston.
No public statements have been made by representatives of Thirteen or James Harden as the situation develops. Attempts by news outlets, including KHOU, to obtain a response from the restaurant have so far been unsuccessful. In addition to the unpaid rent, the landlord is also seeking attorney’s fees and court costs, which are part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to the closure of the establishment.
