High Sierra Grill, Flightline Restaurant file claims against City of Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Flightline Restaurant and High Sierra Grill filed claims against the city of Santa Barbara.

The claims were filed on Nov. 25. The city had not approved a lease transfer to Flightline after High Sierra Grill closed its doors at the Santa Barbara airport.

The claim said Warren Butler was brought in to manage the new restaurant and take over the lease in 2017. Butler worked to obtain financing, re-branded and renovated the location.

High Sierra Grill and Flightline began requesting approval of the lease transfer in early 2018 and continued the efforts through Aug. 19, 2019, the complaint said.

High Sierra Grill's claim said "the City and its employees engaged in resistance and delay tactics in order to pressure HSG to the point where HSG would have to shut down business, so the City could take over and move forward with alternative plans for the Airport".

The complaint said, "constituted numerous contractual breaches and contract-related wrongs."

Deanna Zachrisson, airport Business development manager, said the business removed kitchen equipment and has not paid rent since July.

The City has issued a notice demanding that the lessees pay the rent owed to the City, which is more than $70,000, or release the restaurant so that the airport can work on leasing it to another restaurant business, Zachrisson said.

The claims could be an indication that High Sierra Grill and Flightline plans to file a lawsuit.