Auto shop owner sees new threat from old foe

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 | 11:03 a.m.

Buffalo Jim Barrier successfully fought one attempt to put him out of business, but he sees an even bigger threat of eviction from his biggest nemesis and new landlord, Rick Rizzolo -- owner of the Crazy Horse Too adult club.

For years, Barrier -- a local pro wrestling entrepreneur and mechanic shop owner -- has accused Rizzolo of being behind efforts to drive him out of his neighboring business, Allstate Auto & Marine on Industrial Road. In recent years, he dodged a potential eviction from his former landlord, Schiff Properties, which accused Barrier of obstructing fire lanes.

Barrier sees a new threat now that Rizzolo has purchased the commercial strip and become his new landlord. Last week, Rizzolo informed Barrier that he no longer has a lease at the property because it lapsed in 2000, making him a month-to-month tenant.

As a monthly tenant, Rizzolo would only be required to give Barrier 30 days' notice if he wanted the small business owner to close up shop.

Rizzolo's attorney, Dean Patti, says the club owner is making sure all of his tenants' leases are up to date -- as any good landlord would.

Barrier, though, sees it as a bullying tactic to drive him out of business so the strip club can expand.

The rent dispute is the latest chapter in a more than decade-long dispute between the neighbors. Since the two opened in 1978, the businesses have locked horns. Barrier has even made public allegations of illegal behavior taking place in the club's parking lot.

"They've been pushing me around since the day they moved in," Barrier said of Rizzolo. "It's like a bad 'B' movie."

The lease in dispute is for Barrier's auto repair shop. Apparently his lease for his nearby wrestling school is in good standing.

Barrier says he has a nine-year lease on the property. Rizzolo says Barrier failed to renew the lease in 2000, making him a month-to-month tenant.

Barrier says Rizzolo has refused six months' worth of rent payments, but has not sent him an eviction notice. But Barrier sees it coming.

"This is like the schoolhouse bully after me," Barrier said. "If you just lay down, he'll keep beating you up. I have to fight for what's right."

Since Rizzolo bought the property, in addition to alerting Barrier to the fact that his lease has allegedly lapsed, Rizzolo has also had the city install no parking signs on the south end of Barrier's property, and raised the rent.

Patti said Rizzolo has no animosity toward Barrier and is just trying to make the complex a better place, an effort that includes making sure his property is in compliance with fire codes.

"We just want to be good landlords, we want to make the building look right -- we're restriping the parking lot, painting, and all these things we're doing is a direct benefit to the tenants," Patti said.

Patti said there are no plans for the Crazy Horse Too to expand, and therefore, no move to have Barrier evicted.

"We're not thinking anything like that," Patti said. "My client hasn't given me any instructions to do anything but get all the people's leases up to date.

"As long as (Barrier) is doing what he's been issued a business license to do ... then he's a fine tenant and I've been given no instruction to make any movement."

Barrier's attorney, Gus Flangas, said he has paperwork to prove his client renewed his lease. While the two attorneys are getting to the bottom of the lease dispute, Barrier says he's willing to go away if Rizzolo makes him the right offer.

"I'm willing to negotiate a deal," Barrier said. "I know what my property's worth and I'm willing to sell it to them, but they have to be businessmen, like I am."