Bien Aime Baraza of Sauti Sol has gone back to the drawing board after his nightclub the Manhattan was shut by the premise’s owner over rent arrears.
The musician launched the Manhattan in July 2024. The club was located on the first floor of Imaara Mall on Mombasa Road.
The club has since closed its doors to customers barely a year into operation.
Sources say Bien and other co-directors of The Manhattan have taken the landlord to court over its closure.
The directors of the club, including Bien, say they were forced to close after unresolved differences with the landlord.
“Regrettably, The Manhattan has been closed for the past two weeks due to circumstances beyond our control, which we believe amount to breach of contract, intimidation and harassment by our landlord, Tuffsteel Limited,” the directors said in a statement released on April 5.
They say their efforts to find an amicable solution with the landlord have remained a wild goose chase.
“Although we have tried to resolve the issue amicably through our directors, emissaries and repeated requests for mediation, there has been no positive resolution to date. We have therefore sought legal redress to protect the interests of our business and the welfare of our employees, suppliers and business partners. It’s our sincere hope that justice will prevail through the legal system,” the statement continued.
The directors say they hope to reopen soon, describing the situation to their customers as ‘just an interlude’.
The nightclub opened in July 2022 to much celebrity hype and buzz, with Bien explaining that the reason he decided to invest in the business was because he wanted a place of his own where he could mingle with his fans.
“I also wanted an environment where I could have fun. I realised that I don’t go out much anymore, I get paid every time I go out and that made my relationships with the clubs more transactional and that’s when I vowed to build my own place where I can feel good and people can have fun with me”. Bien said in an earlier interview when the venue opened.
The closure of Manhattan comes just days after Betty Kyallo’s business venture a spa dubbed Flair with Betty that was located in Kilimani was also closed over rent arrears.
In a statement on social media on April 8, 2024, Betty explained that running the business unit became untenable because of high rent.
“Obviously running a business in Kenya has become so difficult. Landlords don’t want to reduce rent and it becomes a huge burden on businesses that are struggling because of the economic slowdown,” Betty Kyallo said.
The journalist-cum-entrepreneur further stated that she had to let go of her business in Kilimani because her peace of mind was more important than a name.
“I let it go. I am happier. I sleep better. My peace of mind is more important than a name. I’m good. Also after 2 months of expansion, we reopen Aftershave by Flair, Upperhill, La Baita. Gentlemen come through. I’ll be there today!” She said.
In February 2024, KRG the Don announced the closure of his nightclub Casa Vera Lounge along Ngong Road.
The rapper came out to address the closing of Casa Vera amid reports he had gone broke and couldn’t sustain operation at the lounge.
Speaking during an interview with 2 Mbili TV, KRG denied he was broke and went on to explain that Casa Vera was closed because business had gone down.
The musician-cum-businessman further regretted the decision to shut Casa Vera Lounge noting that the stuff depended on it to earn a living.
“Unaona biashara kidogo ni kama hakuna kitu inaendelea hapa. Leo ndo official date ya kufunga Casa Vera na hii najua ni habari mbaya kwa watu ambao wanafanya kazi hapa, watu ambao wanapenda kupata burudani hapa,” KRG said.
The rapper however claimed that the closure was just temporarily and that Casa Vera Lounge would open its doors again at an undisclosed date.
“From today we are not operating until further notice lakini permanently tunafunga kwa sababu tunataka kuboresha huduma zetu,” KRG said.
Related: KRG addresses claims he has gone broke
