Al Mike's faces lawsuit and is considering a sale
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Al Mike's in Fourth Ward. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios
The group that owns the historic building housing Alexander Michael's in Fourth Ward is suing the restaurant's longtime owner over "deceptive trade practices," the Charlotte Ledger first reported.
- The lawsuit, which seeks $25,000, claims that the owner, Steve Casner, has agreed to sell the business to a North Carolina businessman. Casner tells Axios the restaurant has not been sold, though he's considering it.
- "If and when that happens, I want to set the record straight. I want to make sure it moves on when I'm gone," he says.
Why it matters: Al Mike's, a tavern that opened in 1983, is a Charlotte institution, known for its cozy atmosphere and signature dishes like the "What It Is" pasta.
Flashback: Local business partners Steve Hood and Srini Mannava bought the Al Mike's building in 2022 for $1.58 million under their LLC, 24th Street Partners.
- "I think it would be a criminal offense to make any changes," to the Al Mike's building, Hood told Axios at the time.
Between the lines: According to the lawsuit, shortly before the new owners took over in 2022, the building's former owner Michael Troiano and Casner changed the terms of the lease to be less favorable to the property owner, the Ledger reported.
- For instance, a provision prohibiting subletting was removed.
- The lawsuit also suggests that a restaurant ownership change would result in the city requiring the building's owner to bring it "up to current building standards, which would cost Plantiff many thousands of dollars."
What they're saying: Casner declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, and the building's owners did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Casner says he's considering what's next.
- "I've been here 42 years, and I'm 71. I'm looking for a way for the restaurant to continue," he says, adding that nothing's been decided yet.
- "Am I looking into possibilities? Yes. I'm trying to keep the restaurant intact. ... Some people just see how old I am and say, 'Are you ready to get out of here yet?'"