Blue Room sues owner of new comedy club, building landlord

A lawsuit has been filed as one comedy club replaces another in downtown Springfield.

The now-closed Blue Room Comedy Club LLC, owned by Christopher Richele, filed suit Dec. 11 in Greene County Circuit Court against BARK Entertainment LLC, dba Springfield Comedy Club, The Shoppes at College Station LLC and Seat Engine LLC. The petition alleges a dozen counts including wrongful eviction, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy.

The lawsuit alleges a lease agreement with Blue Room for space at 420 W. College St. was terminated based on an anticipated sale to BARK Entertainment, but that "the sale negotiations failed because BARK offered a commercially unreasonable, extremely low sum, and plaintiff declined to sell for such a price." According to the petition, the landlord in November allegedly changed the locks to the building without a notice of default and barred the plaintiff from retrieving equipment, inventory, furniture, electronics and other items worth more than $150,000.

"BARK took possession of and began using plaintiff’s personal property ... to operate its competing business in the same location," the lawsuit reads. "The timeline and evidence reflect coordinated conduct between BARK and the landlord to remove plaintiff from the premises and transfer plaintiff’s property and business advantages to BARK."

The other defendant in the lawsuit, Pennsylvania-based Seat Engine, is included over allegations that "a proprietary customer/comic list, compiled from years of ticket sales, marketing interactions and patron engagement" was provided to BARK.

Adam Norwest, co-owner of BARK Entertainment who is based in the Tacoma, Washington, area, told Springfield Business Journal this morning that it's his understanding that the city of Springfield has a lien against the personal property in the building related to a small-business loan to Blue Room. Some of that equipment is being used as BARK negotiates with the city for certain items, he said.

"That says nothing can leave the premises," Norwest said of the loan.

Officials with the city of Springfield could not be reached for comment by deadline. Past reporting indicates Richele received a $90,000 startup loan from the city to help relocate to College Station in 2020 from a room at Billiards of Springfield. 

Norwest additionally said it's his understanding that Richele dissolved his lease with College Station. SBJ is seeking comment from the landlord, Tillman Redevelopment LLC.

Norwest, who with BARK Entertainment is opening Springfield Comedy Club this weekend, called the lawsuit "a nuisance."

"He filed it the day before we opened for a reason," Norwest said. "It's a major bummer. I've got 35 employees ready to work."

BARK Entertainment announced in November it would open a venue at the location under the Springfield Comedy Club name. The Springfield venue is BARK Entertainment's 10th comedy club. 

The space housed Blue Room as recently as October. Blue Room in October faced backlash from comedians and fans amid reports of cancellations and ticket refund issues, according to past reporting. 

Chad G. Mann of the Law Office of Chad G. Mann LLC is listed as Richele's attorney in the lawsuit. Attorneys are not listed for the defendants in court records.