Brouhaha over bonds

Claims fly between NightQuarter owners, vendors

FORMER vendors of popular live music market NightQuarter claim they are owed thousands of dollars in unrefunded bonds but the operator says they are owned for rent and damages.

Five former food stall holders and two musicians allege they are owed more than $10,000 between them.

But NightQuarter owners Michelle Christoe and Ian van Der Woude claim they are owed more than $150,000 from multiple vendors in late rent and damages for the three years they were operating the Helensvale food and live music venue.

NightQuarter abruptly announced its closure on January 17, giving 80 or more vendors two weeks’ notice of the last day of trading, February 1.

Three former vendors told the Bulletin they had sought legal advice, alleging their contracts where breached and bond returns were more than six weeks’ overdue.

Ami Smith, a woodfire pizza vendor, said she was owed $2500 but was billed $2500 for damages to the storage container she leased for more than two years. She disputes the bill.

“I received an email recently which said they are restructuring and refinancing,” she said. “But where is our bond money? I’m just annoyed how they are getting publicity about new sites but don’t help those of us who started with them.”

Mrs Christoe claimed Mrs Smith owed them $1617.26 and that they had filed a claim with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“There was extensive smoke damage from the wood fire oven throughout the container and multiple holes to the panels,” Mrs Christoe alleged.

“We waived the cost to repair the holes, however, she also owed outstanding rent.”

Megan and Sean Riley, who owned two businesses at NightQuarter, are waiting to get back $3800. Mrs Christoe said they would have it “shortly”. “This account was recently finalised after a review by a container company regarding damages to the container,” Mrs Christoe said.

“We have advised the balance of $1674 total after the bond had been applied and are awaiting their bank details to settle the account.”

About 500 workers and traders were believed to have been affected when Night-Quarter closed due to a rent increase to $400,000 a year.

NightQuarter had 120 specialty food stalls. In a statement management said they were finalising accounts with more than 100 stallholders and working on each case individually. But they also said they are owed $150,000 in behind rent and damages from vendors.

Nightquarter attracted 5000 people on the average Friday and Saturday night.

The owners said the venue attracted 1.5 million people to ticketed events.