Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss is embroiled in a financial firestorm as her upscale Atlanta eatery, Blaze Steak & Seafood, faces a lawsuit alleging over $200,000 in unpaid rent, repairs, and mounting interest. The legal drama threatens to tarnish the entrepreneur’s reputation as one of Bravo’s most savvy businesswomen.
The landlord of Kandi Burruss’ restaurant Blaze Steak & Seafood has initiated legal action against the former The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast and her restaurant groups, claiming they are behind on approximately $154,000 in unpaid rent and additional fees and failed to keep the property in accordance with their lease agreement.
Montego Pacific Inc. (the landlord) claims that Burruss has violated her lease agreement and is required to pay an additional $12,083.50 each month in interest until the outstanding rent is paid.
Kandi established Blaze Steak & Seafood in southwest Atlanta in 2020 with her fiancee, Todd Tucker. The duo also runs Old Lady Gang, a soul food restaurant that opened in Castleberry Hill in 2017.
In a legal complaint submitted Monday in Fulton County State Court, Montego claims that Burruss’ restaurant is also responsible for an extra “$56,495.75 for repairs to the Premises and the 10% overhead fee, excluding interest.”
According to a complaint, Kandi Burress and the restaurant companies breached the lease by failing to pay certain charges when they became due and failing to maintain the premises.
Neither the reality TV star nor her legal representatives have publicly commented on the lawsuit. As stated in the complaint, Montego has given Burruss and the restaurant a 10-day deadline to settle the owed amount to prevent additional legal actions.
In 2021, Georgia attorney Ryan Williams alleged he was asked to pay $2 per ice cube at a Real Housewife of Atlanta’s steakhouse restaurant. According to Williams, he was charged $4 for two “rocks” in his drinks, and he produced a receipt to back up his claim.
In a widely shared Facebook post, Williams detailed that he was billed $30 for two Hennessy drinks, $15 for a cheeseburger and fries, and $8 for a Red Bull, with an 18% gratuity and tax included, bringing the total of his meal to $72.58.
Kandi Burruss responded to the claim, pointing out that the “rocks” on the receipt meant more liquor, not ice.