The restaurant, which opened in 2019 in Nashville’s Hillsboro Village neighborhood, announced in June that it was “hitting pause” while it evaluated future opportunities and potential rebranding plans. The company described the closure as temporary.
But according to court filings, the landlord sees things differently. Village 21 alleges that E3 Chophouse stopped paying monthly rent before abruptly closing in February, triggering a default under the lease agreement. The company is seeking unpaid rent, interest, legal costs and additional damages tied to the remaining lease term.
The landlord says the closure violated the lease
According to the lawsuit filed in Davidson County Circuit Court, Village 21 claims the restaurant failed to pay rent for multiple months before closing and that the shutdown constituted a breach of its lease obligations. The complaint also argues that Bryan, Aldean and LaRoche personally guaranteed certain lease obligations and therefore share responsibility for damages resulting from the alleged default.
Court documents cited by multiple outlets say the landlord is seeking more than $1.4 million, including past-due rent and payments that could extend through the remainder of the lease term, which reportedly runs until 2029.
Representatives for the restaurant owners have not publicly addressed the allegations in detail. However, a spokesperson told media outlets they were unaware of the complaint and were working toward a resolution.
Meanwhile, the Nashville restaurant’s website continues to describe the closure as a temporary pause while management explores new concepts for the location.
What happens when a business stops paying rent?
Regardless of how the lawsuit against Bryan, Aldean and LaRoche ultimately plays out, the case highlights a costly reality for business owners: walking away from a commercial lease can have consequences long after a company closes its doors.
Commercial leases often give landlords several remedies when tenants stop paying. Depending on the terms of the agreement, landlords may sue for unpaid rent, recover attorney fees, seek possession of the property or even pursue future rent payments that would have come due over the remainder of the lease.
