This petition to the owners of 6350 & 6550 Sunset Boulevard asks that they deal fairly and honestly with the owners of the Cat & Fiddle and (1) clarify the status of the building and whether or not a new lease has been signed with a new tenant. If no new lease is in place, we ask that (2) they reach out to the owners of the Cat & Fiddle and negotiate in good faith so that a reasonable compromise that is fair to both parties can be reached.

The owners of the Cat & Fiddle, Paula Gardner and her daughter Ashlee, wish to remain in the location where their pub and restaurant has thrived for the past 30 years, but nearly all of their attempts to get their landlord, Jesse Shannon and his partners, to work with them have been met with silence. What little information the Gardners have received from their landlords has been less than accurate or outright contradictory.  That is simply unacceptable.We acknowledge that every property owner has the right to do with their property what they will and what they feel is in their best commercial interest. But there is an equal expectation that they will conduct themselves and their business fairly, honestly, in good faith, and with respect for their tenants, customers, and the public at large.

Property owners within this community are accountable to the people of this community. For an out-of-state consortium of owners to think it can force a beloved local institution, such as the Cat & Fiddle, from its home without anyone noticing or protesting shows how little they know this community. In its first few days, this campaign to save the Cat & Fiddle drew over 2,000 supporters, and that number continues to grow daily. We have the attention of local media, the ears of our civic leaders, and the help of neighborhood associations. We stand with the Gardners and demand that they be treated fairly, respectfully, and honestly.

This situation arose when earlier this year the owners of the building reviewed the Cat & Fiddle’s finances (in advance of its 10-year lease expiring at the end of 2014) and determined that it would not be able to afford a higher rent, one they felt was the actual market value. The Gardners provided the restaurant’s financials to their landlords with the expectation that negotiations would follow, which never happened. They also offered to pay what they felt was a market rent based on what other similar businesses in the area currently pay. They further offered to invest their own money into building repairs and upgrades, but that offer was completely ignored. The resulting decision to bring in a new tenant was presented to the Gardners as a fait accompli, with the owners of the building listing the space now occupied by the pub as available for lease “immediately”. The perception among many is that the building’s owners have been chomping at the bit waiting for an opportunity to evict the Cat & Fiddle by failing to renew its lease and then quietly running out the clock. Well, nothing about this has been quiet.

While we are trying to save an historic and beloved Hollywood pub, this fight is indicative of a larger problem affecting all of Hollywood and various other communities throughout Los Angeles. Retail developments – backed by wealthy, sometimes obscure commercial entities – are popping up with breathtaking speed while family –owned and other small businesses are simultaneously priced out their own neighborhoods. Small businesses and local institutions such as the Cat & Fiddle help give their neighborhoods an identity and sense of character that expensive retail developments backed by faceless developers never will. Several preservation groups and local neighborhood associations have expressed an interest in helping the Cat & Fiddle and also want to draw wider public attention to the issue of over-development in Hollywood. We hope you will add your voice to this growing chorus of concerned citizens and friends of the Cat.

We call upon Jesse Shannon and his fellow owners to clarify the status of this building. If there is no new tenant in place, we ask that Mr. Shannon and company at the very least discuss with the owners of the Cat & Fiddle, in good faith, options that might allow them to remain in their location. All eyes are on you, Mr. Shannon. Please do the right thing.

-The Committee to Save the Cat