The legal fallout over the closure of Rocco’s at the Brick centers heavily on dueling accusations of financial misconduct, directly drawing restaurateur Marc Gelman's other restaurant, Mélange on Sycamore, into the crosshairs.
Brick Hotel landlord Charnjit Kaur has filed a $5 million countersuit alleging widespread fraud, self-dealing, and misappropriation of funds by Gelman (owner of the closed Rocco's and the recently opened Mélange restaurants) and his bookkeeper. Notably, Melange on Sycamore (operating as Frannie G LLC) is explicitly named as a defendant in this countersuit.
Kaur claims Gelman used Rocco’s as a "piggy bank" for three years, secretly diverting Rocco's funds to purchase equipment and supplies for Melange and his other establishments. The lawsuit also alleges that Gelman blocked Kaur's access to financial records and paid out disproportionate financial distributions to himself.
Conversely, Gelman’s initial lawsuit levied its own financial accusations against Kaur, claiming she weaponized the restaurant's liquor license as leverage to extract additional money from Rocco’s to benefit her own separate businesses.
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