According to reports, a lease could not be renegotiated and the landlord has “other projects” planned for the Marina Marketplace Complex
By Zach Armstrong
The location of Phenix Salon Suites in Marina del Rey was the perfect place for Elizabeth Tiku’s independent salon business. It offered a beautiful, intimate space where her clients could enjoy privacy, along with easy, seamless payment processes for services, unlike large corporate salons. And so for the next decade, Tiku happily paid monthly fees to Hair salon from the “Boutique Salon Suite Concept” on LA’s Westside.
But then, out of the blue, an eviction notice was hung on her door.
“I have over 100 clients. They follow me wherever I go, but I have nowhere to go,” Tiku said on the phone, holding back tears as she packed her equipment and supplies. “I have no support. It’s devastating.”
Tiku is one of more than 30 beauty business owners at Phenix’s MDR location currently facing eviction after they claim the franchisee withheld rent payments from the landlord, KCAL reports. A Phenix spokesperson confirmed that the MDR outdoor location is officially closing after a lease could not be renegotiated and that the landlord has “other endeavors” planned for the Marina Marketplace complex at 13455 Maxella Ave.
Although vendors have been given until August 18 to move out, around 90 percent of salon employees have already left their business, Tiku said. “There is no point in staying here,” she added. “It’s all as we see it.”
Founded in 2007, Phenix is a California-based salon rental chain that provides lifestyle professionals with individual suites in larger spaces to conduct their businesses. As of February, the company had over 380 salons in 33 states, in addition to several locations in the United Kingdom. Including the Marina del Rey complex, Phenix has 25 locations in Los Angeles County, including Santa Monica, Glendale, Redondo Beach, Sherman Oaks and West Hollywood.
According to Tiku, the Marina del Rey franchisee is a man who owns nine Phenix locations, including one in Westwood.
“We all have families, bills and mouths to feed. It’s really unjust and unfair and we just want attention and help,” said Anabel Martinez, a business owner who spoke to KCAL News about the situation. “We want to make noise because it’s not right.”
