A popular Haitian-owned fine-dining newcomer in Prospect Lefferts Gardens is suddenly fighting for its life, with a mechanic's lien from a contractor and a notice from the landlord putting its lease on the chopping block. Owner and chef Eva Volmar opened La Cachette du Coin late last year after converting a raw corner storefront at 625 Rogers Avenue, and says she poured her life savings into the buildout. Now, the dispute has spilled into court and left the restaurant sitting in legal limbo.
Mechanic's lien and the court's response
According to court records, the conflict began when a contractor filed a mechanic's lien in November 2025 tied to a roughly $484,000 construction contract, alleging that around $234,000 remained unpaid. After that filing, the landlord served La Cachette with a notice to cure. The restaurant asked the Kings County Supreme Court for a Yellowstone injunction to pause that cure period, but the judge said no, finding the request came after the lease's cure window and that the tenant had not shown it could immediately bond or otherwise satisfy the lien, as outlined in a court decision posted on Justia.
Owner says she put everything into the buildout
Volmar told the Haitian Times that she invested more than $580,000 of her personal savings to build out and furnish La Cachette, describing a large upfront deposit to the contractor as part of that outlay. The restaurant opened on December 19, 2025, and later saw a surge in reservations after a May visit from an influencer, momentum that Volmar says is now at risk as the lien and follow-up notices from the landlord hang over the business.
Who owns the building and why it matters
Court documents identify the landlord as 625 Rogers 2018 LLC. Developer Nigel Boyden, who runs Croxdale Real Estate and co-founded Kingsdel, is publicly linked to the Rogers Residences project that includes the restaurant's storefront, according to Croxdale Real Estate. Public property filings also show Boyden-connected entities filing plans for the corner property and taking construction financing on nearby lots, a pattern that tenants say translates into pressure to re-lease fixed-up retail spaces at higher rents, as reflected in records from PincusCo.
What city law and programs can — and can't — do
New York City has put a commercial tenant anti-harassment framework and local rules on the books that are meant to shield small businesses from coercive tactics by landlords. In practice, though, those protections usually require tenants to go on the offensive, filing claims or seeking relief while lease cure periods are still ticking and payment deadlines are looming. The City Council has advanced measures focused on commercial landlord conduct and the need for legal support for tenants, and advocates along with the Department of Small Business Services have launched programs to connect mom-and-pop operators with attorneys. Organizers say those lifelines can be crucial, but they often lag behind the speed and pressure of lien-related cash demands (New York City Council).
Court calendar and what to watch
Volmar appeared in court on June 16, 2026, and the judge directed the parties to return for further proceedings on August 25, 2026, according to local coverage in the Haitian Times. At that August hearing, the tenant will still have a chance to try to discharge or bond the mechanic's lien, and the way the court handles those options will be crucial in deciding whether the lease stays alive or the landlord moves ahead with termination and collection efforts, consistent with the decision summarized on Justia.
Why this matters for neighborhood restaurants
Beyond one corner dining room, the case underscores a familiar squeeze for neighborhood restaurants: owners who front steep buildout costs can be exposed when contractors, landlords and lenders all assert financial claims at once. Local legal-aid organizations and the City's Commercial Lease Assistance initiative are intended to give small operators more of a fighting chance in those situations. For now, neighbors and regulars say they are watching that August court date closely to see whether La Cachette can stay open long enough to regain its footing.
