In re Greco

42 B.R. 176, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 5222
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedAugust 10, 1984
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 80-00197, 0095-1-79-00484
StatusPublished

This text of 42 B.R. 176 (In re Greco) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Greco, 42 B.R. 176, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 5222 (Haw. 1984).

Opinion

JON J. CHINEN, Bankruptcy Judge.

The Motion of the Trustees of the Richard Kazuo Kishi Trust, (“Kishis”), for the Court to reconsider and vacate its May 8, 1984 Order granting the Motion of the Mel-vyn Choy, Evan Cruthers, Desmond Brooks and Thomas Pagliuso and Troy Corporation to Approve the Second Revised Sublease to Spencecliff Corporation and the Amended Sublease to Surf sports Hawaii, Inc., to Terminate the Grecos’ Claim to Possession and Rental from the Reserved Premises, and to Order the Kishis to Execute Attornment and Estoppel Documents having been considered by this Court, and the Court having held evidentiary hearings on July 10, 11, and 12, 1984, regarding the issue of whether the rental to be paid by Spencecliff to Troy under the Second Revised Sublease constitutes that which would be charged by Troy Corporation if it assumed the construction obligations, and counsel William Crockett, Lex Smith, Erik Zen, and James McWhinnie appearing, and the Court having considered all of the evidence, pleadings and arguments of counsel and being fully advised in the matter, makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On February 21, 1975, the debtors herein, Rene and Anthony Greco, entered into a Lease with the Kishis covering the property located at 736 Front Street, Lahai-na, Maui.

2. On September 20, 1978, the Grecos entered into a Development Sublease with Troy Corporation.

3. On November 16, 1979, Anthony Gre-co filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act. On March 25,1980, Rene Greco filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act.

4. On May 12,1980, Rene Greco filed an Application to Assume the Lease and to enter a new sublease with Troy Corporation. The Kishis opposed Rene Greco’s Application to Assume the Lease.

5. To compromise their differences and to provide a basis for reorganization of the Greco Estate, the Kishis, the Grecos and Troy Corporation agreed on a series of transactions whereby the Grecos were to surrender the lease to the Kishis and cancel the Development Sublease with Troy Corporation. At the same time, Kishis and Troy Corporation were to enter into a new long term lease, (“Kishi-Troy Lease”). These transactions were presented to the court in an “Application for Approval of Settlement” which was heard on June 30, 1980, together with the hearing on the confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization submitted by Rene Greco.

[178]*1786. Counsel for the Kishis appeared at the hearing on June 30, 1980 and requested several revisions in the proposed lease between the Kishis and Troy Corporation which revisions were accepted by Troy Corporation. The Plan of Reorganization was thereafter approved by the Court.

7. The Kishi-Troy Lease does not require consent on the part of the Kishis to a sublease by Troy Corporation. The Lease provides, in pertinent part:

11(c) Subleases. Lessee shall have the right, from time to time during the term of this lease, to sublet all or any part or portion of the premises to one or more qualified persons or entities without the prior consent or approval of the Lessors.

8. Section 2 of the Kishi-Troy Lease provides, in part:

Lessors and Lessee understand that the Lessee intends to sublease parts of the premises to (a “Subtenant”) who will have possession of, and operate and use the same in the highest and best use, to carry on an active business under a sublease instrument (a “Sublease”), that will provide for the payment of various amounts to the Lessee, which will be the basis for the computation and payment to the Lessors of the quarterly percentage rent.

9. The Kishi-Troy Lease entitled the Kishis to quarterly percentage rent in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) multiplied by the gross receipts for the premises. Said lease defines “Gross Receipts for the Premises,” in part, as:

[A]ll payments of any kind received by the Lessee for the use, possession or operation of the premises, or any part thereof, from any person (including without limitation rents, leasehold premiums, franchise fees or the like).

10. Under the Kishi-Troy Lease, Troy Corporation is to cause the existing premises to be renovated so that there will be a building of a minimum of 7,500 net renta-ble square feet.

11. Troy Corporation (as sublessor) and Spencecliff Corporation (as sublessee) have executed a document entitled “Second Revised Sublease,” which terminates on January 30, 2035.

12. Under the Second Revised Sublease, Spencecliff will renovate the building to provide a minimum of 7,500 square feet net rentable area.

13. Experts testifying at the hearing stated that it is impossible to tell from the drawings presently available whether there will be more than 7,500 square feet available when the renovation is completed.

14. The Second Revised Sublease, has among others, the following provisions:

(a) Spencecliff is to pay rent beginning February 1, 1984.

(b) Spencecliff is to complete renovation of the subject property on or before July 31, 1985.

(c) Spencecliff is to pay monthly rent upon completion of the renovation in the amount of $10,000 or 7% of Spenceeliff’s gross sales whichever is greater.

(d) Fixed minimum rents paid (or credited) are to be adjusted two years and nine months after completion of the renovation to the greater of either (a) $10,000 or (b) 85% of average monthly rent (fixed and percentage, without regard to rent credits) during the preceding 2 years and 9 months. Thereafter, fixed rent will be adjusted every ten years to either (a) the fixed rent for the previous fixed rent period or (b) 85% of average monthly rent during the previous three years (fixed and percentage, without regard to rent credits) whichever is greater.

(e) Fixed rents are to be adjusted periodically according to the percentage rents paid by Spencecliff. Accordingly, the fixed rent will be adjusted according to the amount of business done on the premises.

15. Troy Corporation will pay the costs of renovation of the property, together with 12% interest, through credits against Spencecliff s rent. Section 4 of the Second Revised Sublease provides for Spencecliff to offset the construction costs against rent by a set formula.

[179]*17916. Section 4(d) of the Second Revised Sublease specifically states:

It is the intent of the parties that this construction credit will not affect Troy Corporation’s “gross receipts” upon which the rent from Troy Corporation to the Kishi Trust is based.

17. The experience and past success of a restaurant operator are significant factors to be taken into consideration when determining whether the rent provisions of a given lease are fair and reasonable. A tenant with numerous prior successful restaurant operations will generally pay lower rent than a tenant entering its first restaurant venture.

18. The most desirable portion of the subject building is the portion closest to the street on the ground floor level. Other than the ground floor portion closest to the street, the most desirable portion of the subject building is the upstairs portion closest to the street.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
42 B.R. 176, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 5222, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-greco-hib-1984.