CLUB SCENE

Zootz keeps up the fight

By Sam Pfeifle

Though Zootz is, by all appearances, dead in the water, owner George Sweeting is still charging up the paddles. Upset by the way Portland Stage Company (his new landlords) dealt with his recent eviction for failing to accept their rent increase, Sweeting is suing to have their writ of possession overturned. And he’s looking for help.

Sweeting is establishing a “Zootz legal defense fund,” to help defray his costs, and he’s asking that passionate Zootz regulars donate “one cover charge each week that this goes on” by mailing it to PO Box 266 at the Portland Post Office. He says that while his suit is pending, PSC won’t be allowed to rent the space, keeping his hopes alive. But, says Kippy Rudy, PSC director of marketing and development, “Our lawyers’ interpretation of things seems to be different that George’s. My understanding is that technically we could rent the space.”

In an attempt to educate sympathizers, this Sunday Sweeting will preside over a “Zootz Town Hall,” at 5 p.m. at the Skinny. He aims to “mobilize the community with every intention of forming a political action committee to represent the arts district.” This PAC, says Sweeting, would raise money to run candidates for city government that would “put some teeth in the legislation” surrounding the arts district.

Though he emphasizes that this would not be a “Zootz political action committee,” much of Sweeting’s fire and brimstone stems from his eviction on December 20. He believes that legislation mandating “rent stabilization” would have kept Zootz alive.

Using the same figures provided by appraisers with Malone Commercial Brokers, Inc., and the Boulos Company, Sweeting arrived at a figure of around $5 a square foot per month, while PSC came in at $12. When you consider such properties as the old Pierre’s Beauty School space on upper Congress, which is on the market for $7.50 per square foot, the PSC number seems high, and they are talking about a three-fold increase in the Zootz rent. However, “the $12 was meant to be a starting point for negotiations,” says Rudy, “nor did we throw out one hard number as a line in the sand.” And, hey, Starbucks pays $21.50 for their space.

“We agree that there are leases in the building and the area that are below market rate,” says Rudy. “I think all of our tenants know that we are going to raise rates when the leases come due.”

Rudy goes on to say that they have had offers for the space that justify their asking price. “We’re not following up on those,” she says, “because we’re taking things slow. But we feel more justified in asking that price than ever before.”