Tinhorn Flats' Owner Evicted From Restaurant By Ex-Wife

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — The owner of Tinhorn Flats, who has been embroiled in a public dispute against officials after flaunting coronavirus-related health orders, was evicted from the property Tuesday after the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department turned the building over to his ex-wife. Isabelle Lepejian, formerly married to the restaurant's owner Baret Lepejian, now owns the property on Magnolia Boulevard, completed an eviction process she initiated earlier.

Isabelle is also the mother of Lucas Lepejian, the 20-year-old who operated the restaurant after his father moved to Thailand and was arrested multiple times by Burbank Police for being on the property when he was not allowed to be there.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revoked Tinhorn Flats' health permit and its conditional-use permit was subsequently canceled by the Burbank City Council.

Officials clarified that this eviction was separate from court orders from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, who issued a preliminary injunction after the restaurant continued to operate despite lacking the necessary permits.

"The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department turned over possession of the Tinhorn Flats’ building and property to the property owner, Isabelle Lepejian, as the last step in the eviction process she initiated against Tinhorn Flats," the city of Burbank said in a statement. "The property owner was granted a writ of possession, and her right to enter and occupy the property pursuant to the writ of possession is accomplished by the Sheriff placing the property owner in possession, which occurred this morning."

Recently, the area in front of the fenced-off restaurant has been the site of numerous protests from Tinhorn Flats supporters who believe the actions taken against the restaurant and its owners are examples of "unconstitutional tyranny." After news of his eviction broke, Baret Lepijian issued a statement decrying the latest setback and vowing to continue his fight.

"I am now limited in what I can discuss on Social Media," he said. "I will just say this...payments towards rent were made and accepted by "landlord" up till just a very few months ago. This "eviction" process was organized and rammed through faster then ANY eviction, probably in the history of California. The termination of Tinhorn Flats was priority #1 by all the usual suspects that cooperated together. Half Time is over and the Second Half just began."

READ MORE: 3 Arrested, Later Released For Refusing To Leave Burbank Eatery

City News Service contributed to this report.