04/28/2024
Big Moon’s BBQ Closing Montesano Location
Grays Harbor, I regret to inform you that Big Moon’s BBQ will be closing the Montesano location due to tenant mistreatment. On 25 April 2024 at 9:23am, I received a phone call from the restaurant manager informing me that water was coming from all the drains in the kitchen. So much, that a pool was beginning to form in the kitchen.
I first called the property manager, no answer. After which I called the landlord of the building. The building is owned by an organization called The Odd Fellows. I spoke with Odd Fellow One and I informed them of the situation. They said, all the pipes in the building are scheduled to be snaked on the 20th of May 2024. I said I cannot afford to be closed until 20 May. She apologized for my misfortune and stated there is nothing that she can do. [End of phone call]
A few minutes later Odd Fellow Two called me. They said, I heard you have some problems with your drains. I explained the situation to them. They said, this is deemed as an emergency. I will call the professionals and have them take care of this for you. [End of phone call]
An hour later I received a phone call from the property manager. The property manager stated that Odd Fellow Two said I need to call the professionals and have this fixed and is not the Odd Fellows responsibility. [End of phone call]
After which I called Odd Fellow Two back. I said, I don’t understand, you said you would take care of this. He said, the company that he called does not do drains. Which was strange because Odd Fellow One said the whole building would be snaked on 20 May. Odd Fellow Two would not listen to reason and refused to take care of the problem. [End of phone call]
This led to me shutting down for the day. Later a representative for the city came to investigate the matter. The representative said the other businesses in the building cannot use their restrooms. All the human waste from the other restrooms is coming up through the drains of Big Moon’s BBQ. This of course led to the other restaurant in the building to shut down.
When the landlord found out that this problem was affecting the other restaurant they decided to fix the matter no questions asked. A professional was called and explained what needed to be done. They would first vacuum all the water from all three drains then run a snake down the cleanout pipe. The main exit pipe is in Big Moon’s BBQ. Meaning every pipe in the whole building leads to this pipe and out to the city septic.
The professionals said once the cleanout cap is removed there will be a lot of waste and other foulness will spill onto the floor.
According to the property manager the landlords said they will not pay for the cleanup. The professionals explained they had to do the cleanup. The restaurant staff do not have the proper equipment or solutions to do a safe cleanup. The Odd Fellows agreed because they had no choice.
WHY I’M CLOSING
- the landlord showed no concern of my loss of revenue if I had stay closed until 20 May but they would have expected the rent to be paid in full. That was proven when I had to close for a week due to the gas leak; they offered no compensation.
- They showed no concern for the safety of my staff; they would have allowed human waste to stay on the floor of the kitchen.
- For whatever reason I am disrespected and not taken seriously even though I pay my rent every month; they only responded to this matter only because it affected other businesses in the building; I am not sure why I am treated differently.
I cannot continue to pay the Odd Fellows money when it is clear to see they do not want me in the building. The Odd Fellows have ZERO respect for me. I will not tolerate disrespect towards me or my staff. The welfare, respect and safety of my staff is above all. It’s disappointing to see that Odd Fellows One and Two do not share this sentiment.
THIS COULD HAVE ALL BEEN AVOIDED IF THE LANDLORDS WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM BEFORE BLAMING BIG MOON’S BBQ.
FURTHERMORE, WE WOULD STILL BE HERE IF THE LANDLORDS WOULD HAVE CALLED AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE WAY THEY TREATED MY STAFF AND I. THEY HAVE NOT.
1 May 2024, Big Moon’s BBQ will be officially shutdown in Montesano, WA. I appreciate all the support from the customers. I hope to find a new location in Grays Harbor County soon. THE PEOPLE OF GRAYS HARBOR HAVE BEEN GREAT AND VERY SUPPORTIVE!
Big Moon's BBQ
