TEMPE, AZ – Rula Bula Irish Pub, a longtime nightclub in Arizona Avenue for students and residents of Arizona State University, announced Wednesday that it will have to close at the end of June after failing to sign a long-term lease with its landlord.
Whether the Irish counter can move somewhere else financially – or logistically – remains in the air. And if that was an option, founder Steve Goumas was committed to it.
“I think Rula Bula is a reflection of the local community here at Mill, and it has been very supportive over the years. We are a local place. I think it is going to be missed,” Goumas told ABC15 in a Wednesday afternoon interview.
He opened Rula Bula more than 20 years ago on the north side of Mill Avenue, near 4th Street. He sold the business to new owners, but still works part-time as a director of the bar.
Goumas said he has been working with several landlords for the past two decades to renegotiate his leases and rates, and he has paid his rent every month. He said he had survived two decades of economic ups and downs, the railroad construction, the 2008 housing crisis, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are good tenants. We pay our rent every month, and we are busy. We have very strong business,” he said.
However, he feels that Wexford Developments, which has offices in Florida and Canada and owns a number of buildings in downtown Tempe, would not negotiate with him and to his surprise told him that space had already been leased to someone else.
In a statement, Wexford Developments disputed the claims, saying it was offering Rula Bula a ten-year lease in 2019, but both parties could not agree on lease terms.
‘In early 2019, we attempted to renew Rula Bula by offering them a 10-year option to stay in space at a fair market rate that we believe is in line with what we rent very similar space in other buildings that we on Mill own Avenue, ”reads the statement. “After many discussions over several months, we were unable to agree with Rula on renewal terms, and given the impending lease, we decided to go in a different direction.”
A Wexford Development spokesman told ABC15 that they were trying to find another space in their portfolio with the owners of Rula Bula, but that they could not agree to the terms.
Wexford also confirmed that they had found another restaurant to take over the space from Rula Bula, but did not want to name the person or the concept yet.
Goumas said he had not yet found a new location to possibly relocate the bar, adding that it would be expensive to move due to the way the bar was built, and another challenge to its authenticity to retain.
“It’s going to be very difficult to re-establish and recreate the atmosphere and authenticity. It’s not just a concept. It’s more of a work of art when you get into the bar,” he said.
By talking to reporters, Goumas hopes one of three things can happen: he can stay in his current location, someone offers a place for him to relocate the bar, and the community supports the bar’s GoFundMe to staff his staff. help support and any possible relocation costs. . A goal of $ 50,000 has been set.
Any remaining funds will be donated to local organizations.
From now on, Rula Bula will close by July 1, Goumas said.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly named Steve’s surname. His surname is Goumas.