Brick Oven Ordered to Vacate

Seventeen down... one to go.

The people who want to build the University Corners Development in downtown Gainesville won a legal decision today that would evict one of the last businesses still operating at the site.

Developers have been battling brick oven pizza over its lease since last June.

Nothing has been put on paper yet, but a circuit judge told both parties his decision...which is that Brick Oven Pizza will have thirty days to vacate the property.

Lawyers say the judge told them the lease the Brick Oven held was not valid.

University Corners developers say the decision is fair, but brick oven says its just the opposite.

But University Corners developers say clearing the place out is the only way their project can move forward.

"University Corners is very pleased with the decision and now we have 17 out of the 18 tenants that we're occupying university corners positively resolved," said Alex Patton, University Corners Representative.

Brick Oven Pizza had a complicated lease situation...it was signed by an individual that used to be part owner of the store. The legal question was whether brick oven had rights as a tenant under the agreement. A circuit judge says no, but brick oven says they're not finished yet. "We think the judge made the wrong decision in this case and we have every intention of filing an appeal," said Stephen Scott. We asked developers about the chance for appeal.

"I haven't heard anything nor do we anticipate it," said Patton.

The other remaining tenant Maui Teriyaki does have a legit lease and has filed a lawsuit against University Corners in a letter to their customers. They say they have no plans to leave. Developers hope to resolve that issue quickly.

"Negotiations continue and have continued for months but i think now that Maui has filed suit, it will be resolved in a court of law," said Patten.

Brick Oven Pizza has thirty days to file their appeal.

Their lawyer says since Maui's case presents similar issues, they will watch that outcome to determine how soon they file.