MG Craft Kitchen complaint against Lawrence village intensifies legal battle

The closing of MG Craft Kitchen has sparked much more than just upset residents, it has become a federal case,

MG Craft Kitchen, LLC., Moshe Glenn, managing member of MG Craft Kitchen and The Saffron Culinary, Inc., a Lawrence Yacht & County Club caterer, filed a complaint against Lawrence village, all members of its board and Village Administrator Gerry Castro in the Eastern District of New York, on Aug. 22.

“In shutting down MG Craft’s restaurant the Village breached its contractual obligations to MG Craft,” Abraham David, representing the plaintiffs, wrote in an Aug. 22 email. “The manner in which it acted violated our clients’ constitutional rights.”

On Aug. 6, the village sent residents an email informing them of a lack of insurance declarations and endorsements submitted by MG Craft Kitchen, found while reviewing the contracts. The LYCC-based kosher restaurant was sent a non-compliance notice, requesting the necessary documents and MG Craft Kitchen responded by sending the them to the village’s insurance consultant for review, some of which were insufficient, and other coverage that did not exist, the village wrote.

On July 18, Lawrence gave the restaurant 48 hours to produce evidence of the necessary coverage, but received no response. On Aug. 2, the village issued MG Craft Kitchen a cease-and-desist order, which was ignored, forcing the village to close the restaurant, Castro wrote.

When the village emailed the letter to residents on Aug. 6, it had received neither proof of the required insurance nor evidence of workers compensation and state disability coverage, Castro added.

In the Aug. 22 complaint, attorney Sholom Wohlgelernter and David wrote that in April 2024, Glenn signed a seven-year agreement with the previous Lawrence administration in Lawrence, to operate in the facility. The current administration was unhappy with the agreement and looking for a reason to terminate it, Wohlgelernter and David said.

Immediately after the June election Deputy Mayor Tammy Roz, complained to Glenn, regarding restaurant setup, napkins on the floor and a leaking air conditioner, which was the responsibility of the LYCC, and when Glenn asked for all future complaints in writing, it sparked a campaign to terminate Glenn’s agreement, Wohlgelernter and David said.

“I have never actually had a face to face conversation with him and that just falsifies his claims,” Roz wrote in an email to the Herald. “However, even with all of that, we as a village are still trying to work out an agreement with him.  We have dedicated countless hours and days to reach a settlement agreement.”

After receiving the July 18 letter from the village, Glenn complied with all requests and made immediate efforts to rectify the coverage that proved to be insufficient, but was not allowed the 30-day grace period, outlined in the contract, Wohlgelernter and David said.

The attorneys said the village ended Saffron Culinary’s agreement without explanation, despite its expiration in 2019, but with the permission to operate on a monthly basis.

Wohlgelernter and David also said village officials trespassed and broke into MG Craft Kitchen padlocking it from inside.

On Aug. 16, in a Zoom meeting, the village told Glenn he must issue a public apology to the village, praising village officials, before they were allowed to reopen, if at all, Wohlgelernter and David said.

The complaint outlines nine legal issues in which MG Craft Kitchen, LLC, Moshe Glenn, and The Saffron Culinary, Inc. The companies are asking for up to $3 million in damages.

On Aug. 23, the village sent an email to residents, that stated they have been working in good faith with MG Craft Kitchen to resolve the issues, as well as dealing with threatening social media attacks related to the issue.

“The Village Leadership simply wanted the insurance deficiencies corrected, noise due to late night outdoor dining and odors emanating from the location addressed and fixed, as well as offering Friday golfers the opportunity to buy a kosher sandwich during their round. To be clear, the changes the Village requested did not raise rent, restrict operating hours or the length of the licensing agreement,” Castro wrote in the email.

Have an opinion on the catering controversy? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.