Briarwood Mall Sues Pita Express for Unpaid Rent

The landlord is seeking over $270,000 in damages following the closure of a restaurant in Ann Arbor.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Apartments

Vector editorial illustration of a heavy padlock on a glass retail door, depicting an empty storefront and commercial lease default. — Mall at Briarwood LLC is suing Pita Express Mediterranean LLC for over $270,000 in unpaid rent and fees following a June 2025 closure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should commercial tenants always be held strictly liable for the full remainder of their lease agreements?

Mall at Briarwood LLC has filed a lawsuit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court against Pita Express Mediterranean LLC, alleging over $270,000 in unpaid rent and fees. The legal action follows the restaurant's departure from its Ann Arbor storefront in June 2025.

Why it matters

This commercial lease dispute highlights the financial challenges faced by landlords and tenants in the wake of restaurant defaults. The landlord seeks to recover losses from a five-year agreement that soured less than two years after its inception.

The lawsuit claims $85,941.77 in overdue rent, $4,297.08 in late fees, and $179,822.23 in the present value of remaining lease payments. The vacated 2,873-square-foot restaurant space originally carried a rent schedule rising to $4,502 by the fifth year.

The players

Mall at Briarwood LLC

This entity serves as the property owner and landlord of the shopping center located in Ann Arbor.

Pita Express Mediterranean LLC

This company operated the restaurant that is the subject of the current eviction and rent recovery lawsuit.

Pita Express and Catering LLC

This entity acted as the lease guarantor responsible for covering charges in the event of a default.

The details

The landlord initiated the case after a previous eviction proceeding in 15th District Court led to a judgment for possession on April 30, 2025. The lawsuit claims that the tenant stopped payments in April 2025 and failed to meet financial obligations outlined in the 2023 lease agreement.

October 25, 2023: The five-year lease agreement became effective.
August 27, 2024: The terms of the lease were amended.
April 2025: Pita Express stopped making rent payments.
April 30, 2025: A judge entered a judgment for possession against the tenant.
June 1, 2025: The tenant vacated the 100 Briarwood Circle storefront.

Culture Shift

This case follows the standard procedures established by the Michigan Summary Proceedings Act for commercial lease recovery. The lawsuit represents a formal step in the legal process after the landlord secured an initial judgment for possession of the property.

Shoppers at Briarwood Mall will observe the continued vacancy of the storefront previously occupied by the restaurant. Residents should monitor the mall directory for announcements regarding the future utilization of the 2,873-square-foot space.

The takeaway

Commercial lease disputes often result in prolonged legal action to recover lost rent and outstanding late fees. Property owners frequently rely on corporate guarantees to mitigate financial exposure when restaurant tenants default on long-term contracts.