Erewhon, the luxury California grocery chain known for its £22 smoothies, is being sued for allegedly failing to pay rent at its Culver City location. The landlord, Hackman Capital Partners, claims the grocer owes more than £275,000 in overdue rent and legal fees, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.
The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court, alleges that Erewhon has fallen behind on its £85,000-a-month rent. Real estate consultant David Greensfelder said the store would need to generate over £1 million in weekly sales to cover the rent, adding that even with high prices, it takes a lot of sales to support such costs.
In addition to rent, maintenance charges, taxes, and other fees could push Erewhon's monthly property bill to over £100,000 for that location alone. Greensfelder noted that despite the chain's famously high prices, the financial burden remains significant.
This is not the first rent dispute for Erewhon. The grocer previously faced a claim from its Studio City landlord for falling behind on rent, while Erewhon accused the landlord of improperly increasing the rent. The chain, founded in 1966, operates in several affluent Southern California neighbourhoods.
Erewhon has gained attention for its expensive offerings, including smoothies priced between £10 and £20, often created in partnership with celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Other notable products include a single Japanese strawberry for £19 and specialty water bottles for £25.
