ST. THOMAS — St. Thomas Social faces eviction from Yacht Haven Grande after allegedly racking up $198,000 in charges for past due rent, interest, late fees, and utilities, according to a Superior Court complaint.
Yacht Haven USVI LLC, owner and landlord of the Charlotte Amalie shopping center, filed a complaint for eviction against Social Hospitality Group Inc. d/b/a St. Thomas Social on Thursday through attorney Matthew Duensing.
The co-owner of St. Thomas Social is Brett “Mac” McClafferty, a private equity investor and managing director of Mac Private Equity accused by numerous plaintiffs in multiple local and federal lawsuits of operating a Ponzi scheme who subsequently filed for bankruptcy.
Social Hospitality Group allegedly received fraudulently obtained money from Mac Private Equity that was funneled back to McClafferty to conceal the source of the funds, according to multiple lawsuits claiming McClafferty runs a Ponzi scheme, a form of fraud that lures investors and pays profits to earlier investors with funds from more recent investors.
Yacht Haven USVI entered into a five-year lease with St. Thomas Social on December 1, 2022 that required the Mediterranean and Caribbean restaurant to pay percentage rent calculated from gross receipts. The property owner alleges untimely submittal of gross receipts and failure to pay rent, interest, and late fees in addition to charges for electricity and water. Yacht Haven USVI claims the charges due total $198,272.29 through May 31.
After receiving a notice of default on March 4 that triggered a 10-day period for St. Thomas Social to cure its default pursuant to the terms of the lease, the restaurant has not cured its default to date, according to the complaint. Yacht Haven USVI subsequently delivered a notice to quit the lease to St. Thomas Social on April 2, directing the tenant to vacate the premises by May 2. Yacht Haven USVI claims St. Thomas Social has not vacated the premises and holds possession by force.
Yacht Haven USVI requested the court to enter a judgment and order against St. Thomas Social, granting eviction, immediate restitution, payment of the costs relating to the complaint, and such other further relief as the court deems just and proper.
