Eddie Zammit was heading into his 14th year as owner of Late Nite Pizza & Steak in Hackensack, New Jersey. Now he says he’s locked out of the restaurant due to a landlord dispute—and apparently not for the first time.
According to a GoFundMe campaign, Zammit and his family “are facing an incredibly difficult time” with the pizzeria closed down. The Daily Voice reports that the space is listed on Coldwell Banker for lease as a turnkey pizzeria operation with a $25,000 key fee and rent for $3,000 a month.
Meanwhile, the GoFundMe campaign’s page says Zammit, his wife Danielle, and two young sons are now “without their main source of income.”
“The legal battle ahead could take months to resolve, and the financial burden is overwhelming,” the GoFundMe text reads. “Eddie is the sole provider for his family, and the sudden loss of wages has made it nearly impossible to cover basic expenses like childcare, groceries and legal fees.”
The campaign has thus far raised $5,950, and the money will go to “keeping food on the table, covering legal costs or even helping Late Nite find a new home.”
On the Hackensack Happenings page on Facebook, a person identifying himself as Eddie Zammit commented on a post about the restaurant’s closure and provided additional details.
“I’m saddened to say we have been locked out by [the] landlord,” he wrote. He added that the landlord “had me shut down for a gas leak and building violations 2 years ago and then brought to court over rent that was paid to Caldwell Banker property manager.”
He added, “I have been wronged and I will battle for damages in court next.”
