'Rent's Paid' Says Detroit Business Owner, Claiming He's Unfairly Targeted For Eviction

DETROIT (WWJ) - The battle continues for a longtime city businessman who claims he's being unfairly booted from a revitalized business area in Detroit.

Attorneys for Mark Rieth, the owner of Atwater Brewery, are seeking to have the owner of the Tangerine Room on Joseph Campau evicted from the building immediately.

Darnell Small says despite the effort to force him out, he continues to fight on principle.

"A family member told me, she could see things I couldn't see, she said, 'in the end they are feeling it too' make sure you don't sue just to be on game, you make sure it never happens again."

"Slow it down, right or wrong, bad or good - they were right, they got the parking lot - it was a way to get me out. Stroh's River Place - I thought that I had a good relationship with them, but they did what they did," said Small.

In January, Small told WWJ part of the issue centers around a parking lot which he leased for his customers from Stroh's River Place. Small believes his inability to renew his contract for the lot is just another part of concerted effort to get rid of him.

Small says they turned over the parking lot to the owner of Atwater Brewery.

Attorney Jan Rubinstein represents Small: I think the approach has been taken for a while now, that if we can attempt to get West Congress out of this property, that puts a lot pressure to get other things in the litigation to go their way. That would be a significant amount of pressure if Mr. Small is prevented from operating his business - at that point - they've essentially cut off his legs."

Small said he has no problem with negotiating, but he has six years on his lease and Rirth's low-ball offer to buy him out was insulting.

"He won't stop at any length to get the space back, and it's irritating and heartbreaking," Small said, adding that his rent has been paid.

Rirth did not respond to a request for comment; but, according to reports, Atwater claims Small violated his lease by making a late rent payment as well as renovating the building without consent.

Also at issue, Small said, is a parking lot which he leased for his customers from Stroh's River Place. Small believes his inability to renew his contract for the lot is just another part of concerted effort to get rid of him.

"(It's) a move to make it so my customers can't park," Small said. "I told Stroh's and they said they had nothing to do with it, and I said well you guys supposedly signed a petition to get me out…it's in the court document."

Contacted by Thomas, John Stroh would say only that it was a private business deal.

While Small believes this is a racial issue, others say it's all about the money.

Thomas asked political consultant Greg Bowens.

"It's always about the money, and it's always about black and white. Sometimes the two are inseparable," Bowens said. "One of the things that is true is that perception is reality."

Mayor Mike Duggan, meantime, insists there's plenty of room for everyone.

"There is a lot of commercial space in the city of Detroit that's vacant," Duggan said. "And our economic development team will be working with anybody who loses a lease in any building."

Meanwhile, a Wayne County judge adjourned a hearing until May 11 -- with the hopes that an out of court settlement will be reached.