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Help the Strongs save their business

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Lasalle Strong and Michelle Strong are the owners of Capitola Bar & Grill in Capitola, CA, the area to be known as "Capitola Village". They are asking for your support to expose the harassing tactics of [redacted]. More details are available at CapitolaStrong.com. The Strongs were approved for the commercial lease and a residential lease in the building through emails, and had not met [redacted] in person. After 8-months of running their business, Lasalle Strong briefly ran into [redacted] outside of the building. After this in-person contact, the Strongs started to experience odd behavior from [redacted], who lives above the restaurant. The Strongs reported the events to [redacted]. [Redacted], began to enter their business and yell at their staff. [Redacted] continued to reach out to the community, attempting to recruit others to join him in removing the Strongs from the downtown Village. [Redacted] has furthered his harassing behavior by stomping on the ceiling of the restaurant, disturbing the guest and scarring the staff. [Redacted] began to harass and annoy their business, with frivolous claims of default. [Redacted] refuses to meet and compromise on any issues claimed to be a default. [Redacted], warned the Strongs that he will not acknowledge their option to renew the lease. [Redacted], complained to the Capitola Police Department that the restaurant was too loud and requested they give the establishment a citation. The Capitola Police Department did not issue any citations, as they found there were no such violations. Toward the end of 2022, the local NAACP and the Chief of Capitola Police reached out to [redacted] requesting mediation and offering services to mediate the parties. [Redacted] refused both of these invitations, his email response is available on their website. During the winter storms in January 2023, [redacted] delayed repairs to their unit, to the extent, the Strongs hired their plumber, to complete the necessary repairs, as it was required for them to get approved to open for business. Another tactic, was [redacted] refused to sign their entertainment permit for 2023, in an attempt to grossly affect their revenues. This act is a violation of the lease terms, as their business plan stated they plan to have live music, which [redacted] approved. During the last 2-years, the ADA lift that services the building was not operable. Michelle Strong had brought this concern to [redacted], which became a revolving door of excuses. Finally, in July 2023 the lift was operable, however, the Strongs were again threatened with eviction by a 3-day notice to pay or quit, since they disputed the invoice of $13k for the lift rebuild. The lease provision states they are responsible for the "repair and maintenance" of the ADA lift, consequently, they disputed this invoice, due to [redacted] had completely removed the previous lift, filled the first level of the lift's shaft with concrete, and a new lift was constructed. The Strongs argued that the new construction of the lift is above and beyond their scope of responsibility. Lasalle and Michelle Strong also had a residential lease, as they leased one of the three apartments on the premises. In March 2023, [redacted] terminated the residential lease, claiming to be, "taking the unit off the market". In July 2023, they received another default of the lease that their security cameras were a violation of the lease, although Michelle Strong has an email from the [redacted] permitting them to install cameras at the entrance and exit of the business. On August 5th, 2023, [redacted] installed a green laser aimed at their security cameras. The Strong's had a dream, a vision of the business concept come to be known as Capitola Bar & Grill, a family-friendly sports bar with live music. They employ 25 members of the community. The Strongs are asking for your help to save their business, as [redacted] is attempting to bury them in legal fees and remove them from the building, in which they will suffer a great loss to their investment. The Strongs have a GoFundMe to help them stay afloat despite the heavy legal fees they are still enduring.
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Donations 

  • Annie Kellenberger
    • $25 
    • 5 mos
  • Sandi Bolton
    • $25 
    • 6 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 7 mos
  • Danika Chavez
    • $10 
    • 7 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 9 mos
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Organizer

Michelle Strong
Organizer
Capitola, CA

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