Long Beach Wants Former Queen Mary Operator to Pay More Than $20 Million in Delinquent Repairs

Last Week, the City of Long Beach filed a court complaint against the Queen Mary’s former operator, Urban Commons, claiming the real estate company broke its lease agreement by leaving the liner in disrepair, and did not disclose how it spent $20 million in repair funds.

The Queen Mary was permanently docked in the Port of Long Beach in 1967 where she became a tourist attraction, and eventually was made into a city-owned hotel in 1972. In 2016, real estate company Urban Commons signed a 66-year lease which required them to maintain the ship. Urban Commons planned for extensive renovations to the liner before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, reports the Long Beach Post.

The Grunion reports the city requested bankruptcy court require Urban Commons to pay for repairs, which amounts to a minimum of $21 million for the city. The story also states that Long Beach is conducting an audit and allegedly cannot locate nearly $23 million. The city claims Urban Commons has not cooperated with the audit.

According to an April 9 court filing, Urban Commons offered to pay Long Beach approximately $750,000 for missed rent payments. Part of the bankruptcy proceedings includes auctioning off the Queen Mary lease. Since the beginning of COVID-19, LA’s local hotel and tourism industry essentially collapsed as visitors dwindled. Luxe Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills closed permanently last fall.

In other news:

• Less than a month after model, TV personality, author, and food maven Chrissy Teigen declared she was done with Twitter, she’s back.

• The Carl’s Jr. on Los Feliz Boulevard in Glendale is going completely vegan for one day on April 22, reports Veg News. On that day, it’ll give away items made with Beyond Meat.
• Staples Center announced new attendance and safety protocols yesterday. Face coverings, photo ID, proof of full vaccination or negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event date, and no bags of any kind, including purses, are allowed.

• The Michelin Guide says it’s returning to California later this year.
• Highland Park’s Belle’s Bagels wants to make its residency at Cote Est a permanent one, but needs a bit of help to do so. The popular bagel stand hopes to raise $75,000 via GoFundMe.
• The Fat Dog in North Hollywood reopens April 28. To mark the occasion, they’ll offer a flight of three whiskeys and draft beer combo for $14. There’s also a large patio, but peep Fat Dog’s chicken fried chicken.

Bradley Tuck

• Bankrupt Queen Mary operator left more than $20 million in urgently needed repairs, court filing says [LB Post]