Bruxie Closes Amid Stinky Battle With Landlord

By Martin Henderson

Amid fanfare and gourmet waffle sandwiches, Bruxie opened 18 months ago in a Rancho Santa Margarita corner location that had struggled for years to keep tenants. 

On Monday, Bruxie closed its inviting garage-style doors amid a dispute with its landlord over a stinky sewage drain. 

That drain, according to a lawsuit filed in April, has caused noxious odors and as a result, Bruxie "suffered and continues to suffer a substantial sales decline unlike that experienced at any of its other restaurant locations."

According to the Orange County Register, Bruxie co-owner Dean Simon said the decision to close came after a "long, long battle" with landlord K&G/El Paseo, otherwise known around town as Kahl and Goveia, whose lawyers couldn't be reached for comment. In court filings, Kahl and Goveia denied responsibility for the stench.

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The plumbing problems come from an open sewer vent on an adjacent K&G property, according to Bruxie, which opened May 22, 2012, and for the first few months had lines outside the door at its location at the corner of El Paseo and El Portal in the storefront previously occupied by O.C. Burger.

Councilman Brad McGirr, whose oldest son Christian worked at the restaurant, said his son loved it and it was a real loss for the community.

"It created a nice buzz, nice energy, and helped create a downtown with Hanna’s and Cinépolis," McGirr said. "I think it’s a huge loss. I really do. It helped the whole shopping center, I thought. People were walking."

Simon informed employees Sunday night of the closing, but they were being offered positions at an Irvine location and one that's soon opening in Costa Mesa.

"Dean Simon is a quality business owner, they produced a quality product and employed a lot of kids in the community," McGirr said. "I'm very disappointed. I'd love to find a way to keep them here."