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The parent company of Hooters restaurant in Hawaii and a subsidiary of Hawaii Pacific University have reached an amicable agreement on the terms of the restaurant’s lease at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
Lawsuits and all claims that the two sides filed against each other in Honolulu District Court and First Circuit Court have been resolved and will be dismissed.
“We are glad to have reached an agreement with (parent company) Hoowaii and Hooters,” said Janet Kloenhamer, HPU’s executive vice president for administration and general counsel.
HPU sued Hooters last summer for not paying its portion of rent and failing to fix a faulty exhaust system. Hooters fired back, filing a lawsuit against the university for breach of contract.
HPU claimed that Hooters was in default of the lease as of July 22 for failing to pay rent and other charges, owing more than $31,400. The complaint also says Hooters was in breach of contract for not repairing an exhaust system that has been broken since September 2014.
Hooters claims its business was impacted by the recent construction at Aloha Tower Marketplace to install an education center and dorm rooms, despite HPU entering a contract to ensure that would not happen.
The suit says Hooters lost, and continues to lose, income and revenue, which was affecting its ability to pay bills.
“Hooters is very happy to stay in its home at the Aloha Tower Marketplace,” said Gregory Markham of Chee Markham &Feldman, counsel for Hoowaii. “This is a fair settlement and, importantly for us, provides Hooters with a secure future. We look forward to continuing to serve Hawaii’s families and growing with the marketplace as it matures into a full retail and community destination.”