Country music stars Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean are facing a legal battle (1) after the sudden closure of their Nashville steakhouse.

A real estate company, Village 21 Investment Partners LLC, is suing Bryan, Aldean and former Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche for more than $1.4 million after their restaurant, E3 Chophouse Nashville, allegedly stopped paying rent and shut its doors earlier this year.

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The restaurant, which opened in 2019 in Nashville's Hillsboro Village neighborhood, announced in June (2) that it was "hitting pause" while it evaluated future opportunities and potential rebranding plans. The company described the closure as temporary.

But according to court filings, the landlord sees things differently. Village 21 alleges (3) that E3 Chophouse stopped paying monthly rent before abruptly closing in February, triggering a default under the lease agreement. The company is seeking unpaid rent, interest, legal costs and additional damages tied to the remaining lease term.

According to the lawsuit filed in Davidson County Circuit Court (1), Village 21 claims the restaurant failed to pay rent for multiple months before closing and that the shutdown constituted a breach of its lease obligations. The complaint also argues that Bryan, Aldean and LaRoche personally guaranteed certain lease obligations and therefore share responsibility for damages resulting from the alleged default.

Court documents cited by multiple outlets (4) say the landlord is seeking more than $1.4 million, including past-due rent and payments that could extend through the remainder of the lease term, which reportedly runs until 2029.

Representatives for the restaurant owners have not publicly addressed the allegations in detail. However, a spokesperson told media outlets (5) they were unaware of the complaint and were working toward a resolution.

Meanwhile, the Nashville restaurant's website (2) continues to describe the closure as a temporary pause while management explores new concepts for the location.

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Regardless of how the lawsuit against Bryan, Aldean and LaRoche ultimately plays out, the case highlights a costly reality for business owners: walking away from a commercial lease can have consequences long after a company closes its doors.

Commercial leases often give landlords several remedies when tenants stop paying (6). Depending on the terms of the agreement, landlords may sue for unpaid rent, recover attorney fees, seek possession of the property or even pursue future rent payments that would have come due over the remainder of the lease.

Some leases also contain what's known as an "acceleration clause," (7) which can allow a landlord to demand much of the remaining rent owed under the lease after a default occurs.

The stakes can become even higher when business owners personally guarantee a lease. In those situations, landlords may attempt to recover damages directly from the guarantors rather than only from the business entity itself.

Commercial real estate attorneys note (8) that unpaid rent disputes frequently escalate into lawsuits because landlords rely on lease payments to cover property expenses and financing obligations. When a tenant leaves unexpectedly, owners can face months of lost income while searching for a replacement tenant.

That appears to be at the heart of the dispute facing Bryan, Aldean and LaRoche. While E3 Chophouse says it is evaluating the future of its Nashville location, the landlord argues the closure amounted to a lease default — one it says has already cost more than $1.4 million. A court hearing is scheduled (3) for June 26.

Moneywise has contacted the defendant's attorneys for a statement. We have not heard back.

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KGNS (1); E3 Chophouse Nashville (2); USA Today (3); People (4); Backstage Country (5); Rochford Lawyers (6); Rossi Demarco (7); BBG LLP (8)

This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean face $1.4M lawsuit after 'hitting pause' on their Nashville steakhouse

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