
Queen Ann Cafeteria owner John Schroer, right, hugs Susan Vickers who has been working for him for 29 years, on Friday.
BY David McDaniel, THE OKLAHOMAN
Why is the cafeteria closing?
Queen Ann Cafeteria owner John Schroer blames Founder's Tower owner Jim Meyer and Bridgeport Development for the eatery's demise. Meyer counters Schroer is a "difficult” tenant whose lawsuits and efforts to thwart conversion of the tower into condominiums created a hostile relationship in which Schroer decided to end operations.
The issues
Schroer said he had a 12-year history with prior owners that allowed him to pay for repairs and then deduct the costs from his $6,000-a-month rent. He said he did the same with a $690 plumbing bill, and Meyer took him to court over it as a breach of his eight-year lease. Schroer said he eventually paid the $690, but a judge determined he broke the lease by not giving Meyer prior notification of the repair.
Meyer denies Schroer ever paid the $690. He counters Schroer took him to court first in an unsuccessful effort to get an injunction against the condominium development.
Schroer said he has been served an eviction notice and told he would face a steep increase in his rent. Meyer denies both claims, and said he has tried to negotiate a new lease with Schroer or a month-to-month lease that would allow him to relocate. Schroer said a relocation isn't financially feasible.
Meyer said the lease with Schroer, signed by previous owners, is "horrendous” and below market value.