Johnny and Kasie Curiel both left their restaurant industry jobs to pursue the dream of opening their own business. (Photo by Shawn Campbell for Alma Fonda Fina, via The Denver Post)
LoHi’s Mexican scene has dialed down the heat.
My Neighbor Felix, the Mexican concept from Denver restaurateur Francois Safieddine, said Monday that it was dropping its lawsuit against nearby eatery Alma Fonda Fina.
“My Neighbor Felix and Alma Fonda Fina have resolved their dispute,” a joint statement from the restaurants read. “My Neighbor Felix has generously agreed not to seek to enforce a non-compete clause that exists between the parties. As a result, Alma Fonda Fina will remain open for business.”
BusinessDen was first to report last month that My Neighbor Felix had sued Alma Fonda Fina, which also serves Mexican food. It asked for a temporary restraining order, which if granted would have forced Alma Fonda Fina to close, at least for a time.
Francois Safieddine
My Neighbor Felix accused the restaurant’s co-founder Kasie Curiel, formerly an executive with My Neighbor Felix, of violating a non-compete agreement. It said that agreement prevented Curiel from working at, managing or opening a competing business within five miles of a Lotus Concepts restaurant for two years after leaving the company.
Curiel opened Alma Fonda Fina in December at 2566 15th St., about one-half mile away from My Neighbor Felix, according to Google maps.
Alma Fonda Fina denied that it was competing with My Neighbor Felix because it’s not a casual restaurant. In court documents, Alma Fonda Fina said it puts a fine dining take on casual Mexican food, which is where its name comes from. Fonda is a slang term used for street food restaurants and fina translates to fine.
Curiel’s lawyers also requested My Neighbor Felix attorneys Jeffrey Springer and Harvey Steinberg, of Springer & Steinberg, be taken off the case because the firm previously represented Curiel in a divorce. The attorneys called that a delay tactic but said they were willing to do so, although court records don’t show they officially withdrew.
My Neighbor Felix declined to answer questions about dropping the case, including regarding whether there was a broader settlement agreement.
“While disagreements happen, we are pleased to be able to move forward from this in an amicable way that supports our employee’s futures and the success of local business,” the company said.
Alma Fonda Fina’s lawyer, Rudy Verner of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, declined to comment beyond the statement. A spokeswoman for Curiel did not respond to requests for comment.
Safieddine’s restaurant group Lotus Concepts opened My Neighbor Felix in LoHi at 1801 Central St. in 2020 before expanding the concept to Centennial, Boulder and Colorado Springs. Lotus is also behind other brands such as ViewHouse and Wonderyard Garden + Table.
Johnny and Kasie Curiel both left their restaurant industry jobs to pursue the dream of opening their own business. (Photo by Shawn Campbell for Alma Fonda Fina, via The Denver Post)
LoHi’s Mexican scene has dialed down the heat.
My Neighbor Felix, the Mexican concept from Denver restaurateur Francois Safieddine, said Monday that it was dropping its lawsuit against nearby eatery Alma Fonda Fina.
“My Neighbor Felix and Alma Fonda Fina have resolved their dispute,” a joint statement from the restaurants read. “My Neighbor Felix has generously agreed not to seek to enforce a non-compete clause that exists between the parties. As a result, Alma Fonda Fina will remain open for business.”
BusinessDen was first to report last month that My Neighbor Felix had sued Alma Fonda Fina, which also serves Mexican food. It asked for a temporary restraining order, which if granted would have forced Alma Fonda Fina to close, at least for a time.
Francois Safieddine
My Neighbor Felix accused the restaurant’s co-founder Kasie Curiel, formerly an executive with My Neighbor Felix, of violating a non-compete agreement. It said that agreement prevented Curiel from working at, managing or opening a competing business within five miles of a Lotus Concepts restaurant for two years after leaving the company.
Curiel opened Alma Fonda Fina in December at 2566 15th St., about one-half mile away from My Neighbor Felix, according to Google maps.
Alma Fonda Fina denied that it was competing with My Neighbor Felix because it’s not a casual restaurant. In court documents, Alma Fonda Fina said it puts a fine dining take on casual Mexican food, which is where its name comes from. Fonda is a slang term used for street food restaurants and fina translates to fine.
Curiel’s lawyers also requested My Neighbor Felix attorneys Jeffrey Springer and Harvey Steinberg, of Springer & Steinberg, be taken off the case because the firm previously represented Curiel in a divorce. The attorneys called that a delay tactic but said they were willing to do so, although court records don’t show they officially withdrew.
My Neighbor Felix declined to answer questions about dropping the case, including regarding whether there was a broader settlement agreement.
“While disagreements happen, we are pleased to be able to move forward from this in an amicable way that supports our employee’s futures and the success of local business,” the company said.
Alma Fonda Fina’s lawyer, Rudy Verner of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, declined to comment beyond the statement. A spokeswoman for Curiel did not respond to requests for comment.
Safieddine’s restaurant group Lotus Concepts opened My Neighbor Felix in LoHi at 1801 Central St. in 2020 before expanding the concept to Centennial, Boulder and Colorado Springs. Lotus is also behind other brands such as ViewHouse and Wonderyard Garden + Table.
