The popular San Diego entertainment venue Martinis Above Fourth filed for bankruptcy in fall of last year, citing “no real viable path forward” after the pandemic decimated the venue’s revenue. For a while, Martinis Above Fourth hoped to reopen after the state emerged from lockdown, but with limited outdoor space and prioritizing the needs of its employees, the venue opted to close for good by fall of 2020.
“After much deliberation about how to reopen and survive the COVID era, we have concluded there is simply no real viable path forward for Martinis Above Fourth and decided to close the business and file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection,” Martinis Above Fourth posted to Instagram last year.
And while Owner Doru Tufui says the bankruptcy process is still pending, the venue’s home has reportedly been leased to Oceanic Enterprises LLC which plans to bring Martinis Above Fourth “back to life as a new venture,” according to real estate intel obtained this week by What Now San Diego.
Oceanic Enterprises LLC recently filed a liquor license application for the venue under the name “Martinis Above Fourth.” The primary applicant is listed as Manoj Chawla. The only problem is, Tufui is still claiming rights to the business’ name.
“There is a posting on the ABC—Alcohol and Beverage Control—that another company Oceanic Enterprises LLC is applying for a liquor license and doing business as Martinis Above Fourth,” Tufui told What Now San Diego.
It’s unclear how Tufui plans on addressing the situation, but the former Martinis Above Fourth owner has reached out to the company multiple times and has not yet received a response, he said.
What Now San Diego was also unable to reach Chawla for comment, and the liquor license application is “pending,” according to the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control site.
Developing…
