Hunter
02/08/24
Short’s Burger and Shine will remain open pending appeal after a judge ruled that they were to vacate their downtown Iowa City building by this Saturday after an ongoing dispute between business owner Kevin Perez and the building owner.
The Daily Iowan reports MidWestOne Bank previously filed three lawsuits against Short’s Burger from July 2022 to May 2023. The lawsuit in May claimed Short’s did not provide enough notice to renew its lease with MidWestOne Bank. Two of the three lawsuits against Short’s were dismissed in March and April 2023.
Short’s owners filed their own lawsuit against MidWestOne in March 2023 over reported claims that MidWestOne Bank was not fixing necessary repairs of the property, including a deteriorating back wall and gas line issues.
The building was previously owned by Haywood Belle, a third-generation African-American business owner. The site was the home of Short’s Shoe Shine and Repair for nearly 50 years, and the current name is a nod to its past. When Belle died in 2016 the building was left to a trust run by MidWestOne.
Perez spoke at the most recent Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation meeting and claimed the bank was purposely trying to push him out of downtown Iowa City. He argued that the TRC should protect the property by adding it to the historic preservation list.
The restaurant appealed the decision on Wednesday, which will allow Short’s to stay at the property until a decision is determined after another case is heard in July. The bond to appeal was set at $4,147 according to January 31 court filings.