Seven Bridges Delray Beach Board Secretly Axes Restaurant

Did Board Of Directors Violate Florida Statute With Secret Action?

Fifth Restaurant In Seven Years For Seven Bridges. First Restaurateur Suing. Second Ousted. Celebrity Chef Bolts. Fourth Terminated. Is Number Five Alive?

BY: SEVEN BRIDGES BUREAU | BocaNewsNow.com

DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A secret meeting. A secret termination. A secret negotiation. And a denial that’s actually an admission. The saga of restaurant drama in Seven Bridges Delray Beach continues, and again there is fear that a move by a Board of Directors in the community could lead to another lawsuit — just months after the community settled a federal discrimination case for $1,000,000.

BocaNewsNow.com asked for information from readers Monday after being tipped to this story: The Board of Directors for Seven Bridges Delray Beach secretly terminated the fourth restaurant management team in the community’s brief history and entered into negotiations with the caterer in place in a neighboring community. The Board of Directors, according to multiple sources, did everything in secret — cutting out the owners of the 701 homes in the gated HOA on Lyons north of Clint Moore.

If true, the story would suggest potentially egregious conduct: a board of directors operating in secret and potentially violating Florida Statute. Emails to members of the board of directors for comment and clarification were not answered. A homeowner’s request for information from the community’s property management company also received no response.

BocaNewsNow.com did not name the community in its initial reporting. However, outing itself, the Board of Directors at Seven Bridges Delray Beach issued a bizarre denial in an email to homeowners on Tuesday, while simultaneously admitting to everything in our initial article.

“On August 7, 2023, with a unanimous decision of the board, a termination letter was sent to Food Service Delray LLC, from Sachs Sax Caplan. Since that time, the association’s attorney has been in confidential discussions with Food Service Delray’s attorney, on an amicable departure timeframe and plan.  Association Counsel is also working on a proposed contract with the replacement vendor. We had intended to communicate the terms of the departure and turnover later this week; however, due to false narratives being communicated, we felt we had to advise the community immediately. Additional details will be communicated, once they are finalized.  There will be a Board Meeting held on Monday, August 21st at 7:00 p.m. to inform the community on further details.”

The community’s restaurant situation has been challenging. G.L. Homes, which built Seven Bridges, marketed the community as country club-style living with only HOA dues. The problem: the numbers for that lifestyle don’t work. G.L. Homes built, launched, and subsidized a restaurant in Seven Bridges. But when G.L. built its last home, the subsidy stopped. That’s when reality set in. The marketing confused New Yorkers and others who moved to Seven Bridges in million dollar homes and expected white tablecloth service with a Maitre D’ for a couple hundred bucks a month in HOA fees, only to find overpriced burgers and pizza with a 45-minute wait, while kids ran and screamed through the clubhouse. That led to the community moving through two caterers over two years and then retaining famed chef Angelo Elia as the third restaurant operator. He lasted roughly a year — leaving amidst the reality that making money in a community of 701 homes is challenging, as is running a restaurant where adults chase waitresses through the kitchen because they must have food “now!” There was also confusion as the famed Italian chef was told to make Nachos because that’s what homeowners wanted. Elia’s restaurant empire continues to be successful without Seven Bridges.

The Angelo Elia replacement endured staffing issues, while homeowners grew frustrated with increasing “mandatory spends” to keep the restaurant open. The community is now said to be negotiating with Chez Gourmet which operates in Boca Bridges, also built by G.L. Homes. Meantime, the first restaurant operator, Potions in Motion, is suing the Seven Bridges HOA for libel and slander.

Multiple homeowners contacting BocaNewsNow.com said they are considering asking the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to review the actions of board members. While we note that Boards are allowed to meet in secret, and take action, in some situations under Florida Statute, there are questions asked about this occurrence. The Board apparently believes it is on solid legal ground in this situation. The Board is guided by the law firm of Sax Sachs Caplan, which notably guided the Board through the federal discrimination lawsuit that led its insurance provider to pay out $1M to a homeowner.

…Developing…

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