Bar Brawl Spills Into Court As Broadway Theaters Signal Last Call

Jujamcyn Theaters’ narration pinch Sweet Hospitality Group has soured.

Following respective months of heated negotiations, nan concessions institution is now begging a New York tribunal to measurement successful and extremity nan Broadway theatre proprietor from bringing down nan curtain connected their longstanding statement to service cocktails and candy astatine its theaters. “Terminating our concessions astatine nan 5 Jujamcyn theatres, wherever we person astir 45 unit members serving, prematurely and without capable lead time, will materially impair and perchance destruct [Sweet Hospitality Group]’s business,” insists its founder, Julie Rose.

The companies first entered into an statement successful 2015. Jujamcyn Theaters agreed to fto Sweet Hospitality Group group up bars and concession stands successful its theaters, and Sweet Hospitality Group agreed to salary Jujamcyn Theaters 47.5 percent of nan revenues generated from nan bars and concession stands aft deducting taxes and in installments paper fees.

In speech for extending nan statement done 2025, Sweet Hospitality Group besides agreed to salary $250,000 to upgrade nan bars astatine nan theaters. “This finance was made to unafraid exclusive concession authorities for nan extended word and guarantee some parties were committed to providing premiere level concessions astatine nan Theatres for nan agreed period,” stated Rose, estimating that astir 60 percent of nan concessions company’s full revenues were tied to its narration pinch nan theatre chain.

But, earlier successful nan year, it was announced that nan British theatre institution Ambassador Theatre Group and Jujamcyn Theaters would “combine operations.”

Jujamcyn Theaters sold a 93 percent liking successful nan 5 theaters to Ambassador Theatre Group successful June, and nan purchaser sent a missive to break up pinch Sweet Hospitality Group 1 period later. Ambassador Theatre Group provides concession services astatine its different Broadway theaters, and it is readying to offer “a half vessel of Moët & Chandon, 3-course ray repast and intermission saccharine treat” to definite theatergoers during nan upcoming accumulation of Cabaret astatine nan August Wilson Theatre.

The statement sets distant that, “[i]n nan arena that [Jujamcyn Theaters] astatine immoderate clip during nan word of this Agreement shall cease to ain and/or run immoderate 1 aliases much of nan [t]heatres, this Agreement, insofar arsenic it relates to nan peculiar theatre aliases theatres, shall not beryllium operative.”

“We judge that nan modulation of operating power of nan Jujamcyn theatres to ATG falls wrong this language,” wrote Stephen Lewin, nan main executive serviceman of Ambassador Theatre Group. “Indeed, nan connection of nan statement appears to contemplate this very situation,” he continued.

Rose and nan attorneys for Sweet Hospitality Group disagreed.

“While you person advised that Jujamcyn has ‘combined operations’ pinch ATG, this is of people not nan aforesaid arsenic Jujamcyn ceasing to ‘own and/or operate’ nan [t]heatres,” wrote attorneys for nan concessions company. “Based connected your ain description, this appears, if anything, a ‘change of control’ of Jujamycn,” based on nan attorneys.

“The assertion that Jujamcyn nary longer owned aliases controlled nan [t]heatres is astatine likelihood pinch reality,” echoed Rose. Jujamcyn Theaters is still identified arsenic nan proprietor of nan 5 theaters connected its website, Sweet Hospitality Group still pays money to Jujamcyn Theaters, and Jujamcyn Theaters is still listed connected nan liquor licenses renewed for nan theaters past month.

Executives astatine Jujamcyn Theaters declined to talk nan lawsuit, and nan theatre institution now has respective weeks to respond to complaint.