Rumi Café Closing May 1st & Needs New Relocation!

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Shahrouz Shane Taheri and L AM are organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello, my name is Shahrouz (Shane) Taheri, owner of Rumi Café in Sherman Oaks, California. Thank you for coming here to read my story and to help me raise funds to relocate.

Back in 2019, I used my entire life savings to personally design and build my dream restaurant where I would be able to share my love of homemade Persian and Mediterranean cuisine in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Once Rumi Café was up and running, I felt blessed! It was truly my dream come true! We began hosting what became our "Popular Artist's Nights," where an eclectic array of musicians and singers performed their unique crafts and talents. This was exactly what I had always wanted...a lively and energetic atmosphere where you eat delicious homemade food, laugh and relax among friends and family, and one that felt like you were at home. Over the years, my customers have become my extended family and I pour love into everything I serve them!

Sadly, Covid hit us all hard! After finally overcoming a dragging lockdown, and without any warning, I was suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a massive fine for my outdoor space. This happened while other restaurants in the surrounding area expanded their outdoor footprint without any penalization.

But most recently, I have been hit with two frivolous lawsuits by serial "suers" claiming there is not enough space in Rumi Café's outdoor area to maneuver a wheelchair. The plaintiffs are Alejandro Diaz and Brian Whitaker who live off of fraudulent and bogus lawsuits. If you Google their names, you will see that both these extortionists' names pop up as individuals who explore businesses, not only in the Sherman Oaks area but throughout greater Los Angeles and California, looking for loopholes and ways to sue, hoping to make a settlement from an easy cash payout.

Needless to say, this lawsuit has taken a huge strain on my wife and me and caused us great worry about how we will be able to make ends meet and continue to raise our four-year-old daughter Maya. I have already paid off the first lawsuit, and not long after I was slapped with the second one with the second greedy plaintiff who is hoping to be compensated as well. Currently, I am over $70,000 in debt and I am contemplating filing bankruptcy due to these lawsuits. However, I still need to pay for all my loans. To add more insult to injury, just recently my landlord forced me to tear down what was once my beautiful outdoor patio due to the second lawsuit.

Unfortunately at this point, with great heartbreak, Rumi Café is forced to stop serving food around April 15th and we need to prepare to close our doors on May 1st. Having to deal with these unfair and unfounded situations has made it impossible for me to remain afloat. Sadly, I need to cut my losses and hope that with enough financial help and backup, I will have an opportunity to pay off all of my debt and be able to move on to open up a new Rumi Café so I can continue my childhood dream!

Thank you for supporting me in helping me with my dream and for taking the time to read my story.

...and if you're in the area, please stop by before May 1st so I can greet you personally and offer you a cup of our signature "Special Rumi Persian Tea."