When Governor Stitt said he wanted to run the state like a business, I guess that meant he wanted taxpayers to lose money in the restaurant industry!
In a surprise to absolutely no one who reads this site and/or has ever invested money in a restaurant, the state sued the operators of Lookout Kitchen – the much-maligned chain that replaced the much-maligned Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen in all state parks – just months after the chain was shut down over $200,000+ in unpaid bills.
Although news of a lawsuit isn’t shocking, the money the state’s seeking to claw back is raising eyebrows.
According to the state, the chain’s genius ownership group – led by Joe Exotic’s former traveling sideshow magician JP Wilson – didn’t just owe for unpaid taxes and missed revenue-sharing payments, but also for millions in damage caused to a lodge thanks to a kitchen fire.
Via KOKH:
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the company responsible for the closed Lookout Kitchen restaurants located in Oklahoma state parks.
The state in its lawsuit claims the restaurant operator broke its contract, was negligent, and caused millions of dollars in damage to the tune of $5 million.
Oklahoma says the restaurant owners didn't maintain a Commercial Liability Insurance Contract to cover property damage, as required, and a fire that damaged hotel rooms started when a Lookout employee left a rag with greasy and combustible materials in a container. The restaurant was uninsured at the time, according to the state.
Wow. You’re telling me Kevin Stitt and Shelley Zumwalt’s decision to do business with a MAGA idiocrat who wears loud shirts and worked as Joe Exotic’s old magician not only didn’t work out, but may put the state on the hook for millions of extra dollars?
Yeah. Well. That sounds about right.
Here’s more via The Oklahoman:
Along with RPW ENT, the filing names a company called RCC Ventures LLC as another defendant. According to court records, RCC Ventures purchased a stake in the state park restaurant operation back in 2023 shortly after the contract was awarded. RCC Ventures' managing member is Douglas B. Walker, CEO of Rudy Construction Co. in Oklahoma City.
With $400,000, RCC Ventures captured a 50% ownership of the operation of the state park restaurants. A few months later, RCC handed out another $375,000 as a line of credit. For collateral, the Wilsons put up a 1994 Ferrari 348 Spider, a 1999 Bentley Arnage, a Midtown OKC condo and some amount of profits from Falcone's Restaurant.
Really? You’re having to use the Ferrari as collateral for a loan? Even Desmond Mason thinks these guys may have money management issues! I’m not Dave Ramsey, but maybe sell the car, stop buying tacky shirts, and pay off some debt.
While it looks like the state might want to contact the debt collectors they hire to go after all Pikepass holders, JP is denying the claims in the lawsuit:
"We strongly disavow the lawsuit filed by OMES and reject the allegations of breach of contract and negligence. These claims do not reflect the facts, the conditions under which this facility was provided to us, or the realities of our operations," Wilson said. "Fire prevention and suppression issues related to the state-owned facility were outside the scope and responsibility of our company."
Fire prevention and suppression issues related to the state-owned facility were outside the scope and responsibility of our company? I don't know. Based on their wardrobes, it feels more like fires were encouraged, or at the very least, a form of karma.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
