Despite being foreclosed upon in September, College Perk coffeehouse, bar and boardinghouse has been conducting business as usual.
But since late last month, the new owner has been trying to change that – by seeking to have College Perk evicted from the property.
Nonetheless, Chris Gordon – who founded College Perk in 2003 – said he is not worried. He said yesterday he and his lawyers have enough dirt on the proceedings used in the foreclosure to keep the business going without interruption.
“As far as my attorneys tell me, it’s still my property,” he said.
But the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation disagrees, listing Daria Land Group LLC as the owner of 9078 Baltimore Avenue. And College Park Public Services Director Bob Ryan said Daria attorney Robert Hillman told the city the company is in court trying to evict the property’s tenants.
Hillman declined to comment.
Gordon provided few specifics on how he plans to push his case – acting on his attorney’s advice, he said – but said he was not given sufficient notification of the foreclosure proceedings and accused the other involved parties of submitting fabrications to courts. He said he is not only certain he will keep his property, but he also expects the other parties to face criminal charges.
“I am quite sure that people who become judges are smart enough and wise enough to say,’Wow, this isn’t true, and you said it was,'” Gordon said.
Gordon has largely kept quiet on the foreclosure proceedings, brushing it off as complicated paperwork. Employees and customers in College Perk yesterday said they had not heard the property had been foreclosed on or heard of a court battle to evict the business.
“I hope it’s not true,” said Nadia Brandon, an alumna and frequent College Perk customer. “It would suck if this place closed, period. I would have to go to Silver Spring or D.C.”
Brandon listed many reasons she loved College Perk: intellectual debates, friendly community atmosphere, coffee and even the study environment, following each with “make sure you put that in the story, too.”
Gordon brought out dozens of supporters to fight for College Perk in February when the city was considering challenging its liquor license over unpaid fees, but said he has not rallied the troops over this issue because popular support can’t change the result.
Gordon also has not paid some of the city fees he agreed to take care of in February, as well as more recent fees. He said he just hasn’t gotten around to some of them; others, such as the occupancy permit fee, remain unpaid because of his own scruples about them.
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