A Brooklyn bar owner is suing his
landlord over a clause in his lease which prohibits him from opening
a gay bar or restaurant at the location.
“I am barely scraping by on the
proceeds of the bar …,” John McGillion, owner of Lulu's, said in
a Brooklyn Supreme Court filing, according to the New
York Post.
“If I am permitted to operate a gay
bar at the premises I believe that I will be able to make a
considerable profit,” he added.
McGillion opened Lulu's in the up and
coming neighborhood of Greenpoint in 2005.
Despite putting “a lot of money”
into the business, Lulu's “lost money, there's no doubt.”
McGillion's lease prohibits him from
operating a gay bar or restaurant in the space.
“The Leased premises shall be used by
Tenant as a restaurant and bar,” the lease reads. “It shall not
be used for adult entertainment and shall not be operated as a gay or
lesbian bar and/or restaurant.”
Of his plans, McGillion said it would
be easier to cater to gay men and lesbians.
Gay bars “do well because you don't
have issues of fighting. They're nice people, they're wonderful to
deal with. It's easier. Typically, you don't have to offer food,”
he told the paper.