But he says former restaurateur didn’t do his part in removing
his equipment from the renovated building
Gilroy – Jim Angelopoulos has slapped a big neon sign on Old City Hall, painted a jungle theme on its garden walls and covered its ceiling in model airplanes. But the man who in coming weeks plans to open “Chips ‘N Salsa,” a Mexican restaurant with a tropical theme, still hasn’t paid for the business, according to a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee.
Carol Wu, who represents creditors of the last failed business in the historic downtown building, located at Sixth and Monterey streets, has sued Angelopoulos on charges of “fraudulent transfer.” She is demanding that Angelopoulos either return the lease and equipment inside the building or cough up $350,000 – the sale price agreed to with Glen Gurries, former owner of Old City Hall Restaurant.
“We’re not trying to stop him from opening up,” said Dennis Davis, a San Francisco attorney representing Wu. “We’re not trying to slow him down. We just want our money. We wish him the best otherwise. We hope he sells tons of chips and salsa.”
Davis said the trustee chose not to block the opening of the restaurant in January.
Angelopoulos originally intended to open in June, but had to repeatedly bump back the deadline as he wrestled with Gurries to get the liquor license out of escrow. He ultimately had to file for a new license.
“I feel that he didn’t do his part and that’s what set off my canceling of the contract,” said Angelopoulos, who obtained the lease and other business components as part of a no-money down transaction.
He said most of the equipment in the building belongs to the city, and that Gurries has failed to respond to multiple requests to pick up any equipment or fixtures he claims to own.
Gurries shuttered the doors on his restaurant in December 2004, a little more than a year after opening. Bankruptcy papers filed on Oct. 14 show he owes $586,172 to various creditors. In addition to headaches with Gurries, Angelopoulos has had problems with city officials who thought his tropical theme got out of hand.
In October, the city ordered him to return Old City Hall to its tan color, after Angelopoulos began painting the building bright pink to parlay with the restaurant’s theme.
He assured residents he would open despite the setbacks.
“Whatever happens down the road, I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I’ve invested too much money and energy and time to convert this place into a tropical-themed restaurant.”
