In wake of suit by ex-manager, Hu’s calls it quits

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/12/2012 (4685 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WITHIN weeks of being sued by the company that used to run it, Hu’s on First Asian Bistro at Shaw Park closed its doors for good Saturday.

The eatery owned by David Katz, brother of Winnipeg’s mayor and Winnipeg Goldeyes owner Sam Katz, is closing until at least April to undergo “extensive renovations,” a restaurant spokesman said Saturday night.

When the restaurant reopens in the ballpark by The Forks this spring, it will have a new theme and name, he said. He said he couldn’t comment on whether it would also have a new owner.

Katz has spent close to $10,000 of taxpayers’ money at his brother David’s restaurant, according to expense documents that show the mayor held multiple business meetings at the Shaw Park eatery over a three-year span.

On Dec. 4, Wow Hospitality launched a lawsuit against Mayor Katz, Hu’s and the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball club for allegedly failing to pay fees owed from a former contract.

According to a statement of claim filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench, Wow Hospitality agreed to manage the food and beverage operations at what was then Canwest Global Park in February 2000. Court documents allege Wow Hospitality was to be paid a basic management fee, plus an additional five per cent of gross sales of certain food and beverages.

Wow Hospitality later entered into a contract with Encore Developments, a company owned by Sam Katz, to manage and operate Hu’s on First, court records say.

The statement of claim says Encore agreed to pay Wow a development fee of $25,000 and a management fee of $5,000 a month.