Battle Creek Enquirer Reporter Bowman says the dispute between Arcadia Brewing and Battle Creek Unlimited has been brewing for a while. But it’s unclear if the next stop is court.
Arcadia’s Battle Creek brewpub has been operating in a building owned by BCU. Arcadia hasn’t paid rent on the building since October of 2014. Bowman says that’s one of the few points that both sides don’t dispute.
Arcadia owner Tim Suprise says there has been no lease since then, but BCU says since Arcadia is still in the space, the lease is still valid. There are also disagreements over whether improvements should be made to the building.
Bowman says there’s a long history between the two sides. Arcadia is an important tenant at a time when downtown development is an important issue in Battle Creek. But she says Arcadia was facing tax trouble in the early 2000’s. Battle Creek Unlimited helped Arcadia get through that difficult time by buying the building now at the center of the disagreement.
The dispute is further complicated by the pending sale of the building. Bowman says Suprise and Arcadia could renegotiate a new lease with the building’s new owners. Bowman says the purchase of the building could help settle the issue. Or one or both sides could follow through on threats made to take legal action.
