Landmark Homewood restaurant may close after lease expires Sept. 1
The Anchorage, a 67-year landmark among businesses lining Homewood's 18th Street South, will close soon after Sept. 1 if restaurant owner Denton Scott and building owner William Shaia are unable to reach an agreement.
"It came as a total surprise when Mr. Shaia said he wasn't going to renew the lease," Scott said. "Things were fine when we talked back in January. I believed we had a verbal agreement until about a month ago."
Shaia's attorney, Wheeler Smith of Homewood, said Tuesday he remains hopeful the situation can be resolved. Though Smith said he could not give specifics, he praised the philosophy of the Shaia family, which owns several Homewood businesses.
"The Shaia family makes an effort to maintain their properties in Homewood for the greater good of Homewood," Smith said. "They are very conscientious and want first-rate tenants."
Scott said that Shaia, of Osprey, Fla., and a relative of Ken and Leo Shaia of Homewood, called just after Scott had bought out his former partner, R.T. Lee, Scott said.
"Mr. Shaia said his attorney would be handling the new lease," Scott said. Scott said he met with Smith, who presented a new lease that included a monthly rent increase from $2,500 to $3,000.
Scott was prepared to sign the contract, he said. But Shaia requested a personal meeting with Scott around May, Scott said.
Shaia produced an addendum of nine items, such as painting and repairs, for Scott to address, which Scott said he answered in writing.
"But Mr. Shaia came in the restaurant soon after, and with no mention of the addendum proposal, said he wasn't going to renew the lease."
Scott and Lee had bought the restaurant in July 2005, Scott said, adding he would not have considered buying Lee out had he known there was a possibility the lease wouldn't be renewed.
"At that point, it became personal, and I asked him (Shaia) to leave," Scott said.
Scott cannot afford to move to another site after spending reserves on buying out his partner, he said. He expects to lose a hefty investment, though he preferred not to say how much.
Smith's take is brighter for the scores of regulars who start their days at the Anchorage with breakfast and lively discussions about the latest current events.
"We have been working to try to reach an agreement that would serve both parties, and we are continuing to negotiate," Smith said. "It is a sad situation."
A version of this story appearing Tuesday on The Birmingham News' Breaking News Web log on al.com drew a stream of comments. Many people expressed disappointment to learn the restaurant was closing, including a property owner interested in talking with Scott about relocation prospects.
E-mail: kbryan@bhamnews.com
