NEWS

Are tenants' problems exclusive to Westport Village?

Kirsten Clark
A store map at Westport Village on Friday may have some changes if a current lawsuit between tenants and the property owner cannot be resolved.

A group of Westport Village tenants' difficulties with shopping center management may be exclusive to that location.

Tenants in other Kentucky shopping centers owned by Inland American Real Estate Trust, the same Illinois-based company that owns Westport Village in Graymoor-Devondale, report no discontent with owners or management of the properties.

In October, 22 Westport Village tenants collectively filed a lawsuit against Camelot Acquisitions, LLC, the Inland American entity which owns and manages Westport Village, claiming owners had tacked "excessive and unreasonable operating expenses" onto rent and failed to properly manage the development.

Since the suit was filed, one more tenant has been added to the list of plaintiffs, said attorney Joshua Rose, who represents the tenant group.

RELATED | Westport Village losing tenants amid lawsuit

In addition to Westport Village, Inland American owns two other Kentucky shopping centers: Bellerive Plaza in Nicholasville and Silverlake in Erlanger.

Tim McGurk, who manages public affairs for the Bellerive Plaza Kroger, which anchors the Bellerive Plaza shopping center, said he is familiar with the situation in Westport Village and has not heard of any issues with management of the Nicholasville shopping center.

Employees of a consignment boutique in the Silverlake shopping center report there have been no problems with management of the Erlanger center, said Petty Bitzenhofer, administrative manager for Snooty Fox consignment stores. It's always clean and well maintained, she said.

Occasionally, Bitzenhofer will call the property manager in Oak Brooks, Illinois — where Inland American is headquartered — to report a problem, but it is always promptly taken care of, she said.

Management of a Silverlake nail salon did not return a phone call seeking comment. The phone number for a hair salon listed as a Silverlake tenant on Inland American's website has been disconnected.

Inland American also owns Marriott Griffin Gate Resort and Spa in Lexington.

Plantiffs on the Westport Village lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, include owners of the following businesses:

  • Boutique Serendipity
  • Avanti Skin Center of Louisville
  • Chuck and Mike's Tennis Shop
  • Shirts Ties N' Links
  • Chartreuse
  • Clater Jewelers
  • Closets By Design
  • Fusion Salon
  • Zi Olive
  • Ghyslain Chocolatier
  • Hiko-A-Mon Sushi Bar and Fish Market
  • Playthings Toy Shoppe
  • J. Carlton Shoes
  • J. Higgins Gallery and Framing
  • Elements Therapeutic Massage
  • Neikirk, Mahoney, and Smith, PLLC
  • Bliss Nails and Organic Spa
  • Secret Garden, Summer Classics
  • Collections
  • Wild Eggs
  • Medical Weight Loss at the Village, PLLC

Reporter Kirsten Clark can be reached at (502) 582-4144 or on Twitter at @kirstenlmclark.