By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
Pepito Munoz, a well-known former Shreveport restaurateur, is being sued for more than $800,000 in unpaid rent on the Youree Drive building which is home – for a few more days – to Pepito XO Mexican Bistro.
Jeff Fair, Munoz’s business partner, who is also the building’s landlord, told the Journal Monday the restaurant will close September 28th, but that the closure does not have anything to do with the lawsuit.
“My partner and I have had some disagreements, and he refused to sign the liquor license renewal paperwork, so we were forced to close because we are losing our liquor license,” Fair said. “We’re a Mexican restaurant and I think we have the best Margaritas in town. It’s very hard to make money in a restaurant without serving alcohol.”
On July 17th, Fair’s LLC, 5815 Youree, filed suit in Caddo Parish 1st Judicial District Court, alleging Munoz’s LLC, Comida Real, owes $875,067.30, plus “all court costs and attorney fees stipulated at 15% of the amount being sought after, together with interest, at the legal rate from date of judgment.”
The suit, which was reviewed by the Journal, claims that of the $875,000-plus amount, $224,067.30 is for non-payment of past rent. According to the suit, 5815 Youree “elected to accelerate all rents due under the Contract of Lease,” which accounts for the additional $651,000.
The suit indicates a five-year lease to rent the building, and its furnishings, was signed March 1, 2022. In addition to the contract between the two LLC’s, the suit states that “Munoz personally guaranteed payment and performance of the obligations of Comida Real.”
Earlier this year, Munoz left Shreveport to head up the new Superior Grill in Lafayette. Monday afternoon, a manager at the restaurant told the Journal Munoz was not in, but that the manager would call or text Munoz and make him aware of the Journal’s inquiry. As of Monday evening, Munoz had not returned the Journal’s message.
Pepito XO, which opened last November, billed itself as “a trendy, art-forward restaurant serving globally inspired bistro/gastropub dishes with a Mexican twist.”
“I’m very disappointed,” Fair said of Pepito XO’s imminent closure. “My goal was not to make a lot of money. Obviously, I didn’t intend to lose money, but my goal was to provide someone who I thought was a friend with an opportunity to have his own restaurant, serve very good food, and support the local economy with jobs and a nice place to eat.”
Fair said he is working on plans to re-lease the restaurant space, and hopefully keep many of the restaurant’s staff employed. However, Fair would not confirm or deny potential tenants.
“I’m very hopeful we will have something we can announce soon.”
Munoz became popular during his time at Superior Grill in Shreveport. He later opened his own restaurant, Pepito’s & Co., which closed in January 2022 following a publicized dispute with the restaurant’s financial backer, Shane Rodgers, who is also a local restauranteur. Pepito then opened Pepito XO in downtown Shreveport. It closed shortly after the Youree Drive location opened.
Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com.