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Published: Saturday, 12/6/2014 - Updated: 4 months ago

Tres Belle Wine & Martini Lounge closes; owners sue one another

Claims of mismanagement of Perrysburg lounge cited

BY JON CHAVEZ
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

High Risk Merchant Account

Belle Wine & Martini Bar in Levis Commons in Perrysburg opened in April, 2011, and quickly caught on with locals for its specialty martinis and tasting events for wine, premium scotches, and whiskeys. Belle Wine & Martini Bar in Levis Commons in Perrysburg opened in April, 2011, and quickly caught on with locals for its specialty martinis and tasting events for wine, premium scotches, and whiskeys.
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A wine and cigar hotspot at Levis Commons in Perrysburg that catered to the after-dinner crowd through a catchy mix of jazz and specialty drinks has closed. Its owners are suing each other over claims of mismanagement and other business improprieties.

Tres Belle Wine & Martini Lounge and its sister business, Casa De Montecristo Fine Cigars, both at 3145 Hollister Lane in a Levis property known as the Orleans building, closed Nov. 29, a court-appointed receiver who manages the building confirmed.

The upscale establishment, which had shortened its name to Belle Lounge, also placed a notice on its Web site stating it had closed and thanking customers.

Opened in April, 2011, Tres Belle immediately caught on with patrons who enjoyed its long, curving bar, private booths, leather couches, interior fireplace, and outdoor patio and gazebo where fine cigars could be smoked. The lounge was popular for its specialty martinis and its tasting events for wine, premium scotches, and whiskeys.

But in July one of its two owners, Scott Moore of Lambertville filed suit in Wood County Common Pleas Court against co-owner, Miriam Hawili of Toledo. Also named as defendants were the owners’ operating company, Suhara LLC, and Mrs. Hawili’s husband, Hilal Rahal, who manages Suhara.

In his suit, Mr. Moore, who owns 48 percent of Suhara, claimed the couple failed to withhold adequate taxes for employees and maintain accurate tax records, did not account for cash receipts, did not maintain accurate records of cash and other contributions to the company, and did not provide adequate business records. He also accused the couple of using company funds for their other businesses, of distributing Suhara funds without authorization, of operating Tres Belle in a way that it was cited repeatedly for smoking violations, and of making misrepresentations of Mrs. Hawili’s management status to the Ohio Liquor Control board.

Mr. Moore stated he invested $193,000 in the business and through mismanagement of Suhara his investment was jeopardized and the company’s value diminished. By letting her husband continue to manage Suhara, Mrs. Hawili breached her fiduciary duty as majority owner, Mr. Moore claimed.

In September, the couple countersued, claiming that in November, 2013, Mr. Moore unilaterally took over both businesses without Mrs. Hawili’s permission and had been running them ever since and excluding the couple. They sought reimbursement for losses resulting from Mr. Moore’s activities.

In the countersuit they said that because of Mr. Moore’s actions Suhara lost its affiliation with Casa De Montecristo, saw its revenue diminished, and suffered liquor law violations.

Lastly, they claimed Mr. Moore generated revenue from the business that he retained for his own use.

In his suit, assigned to Judge Reeve Kelsey, Mr. Moore sought release of Suhara records and unspecified damages to cover losses suffered because of mismanagement.

In the countersuit, Mrs. Hawili and Mr. Rahal sought damages of more than $25,000, an accounting of monies generated by Mr. Moore since November, 2013, an order prohibiting Mr. Moore from operating Suhara, and if necessary, a court-appointed receiver to run the business.

A jury trial has been scheduled for July 15.

Contact Jon Chavez at: jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.


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