Former Providence Club Manager Sues “Member of One of the Richest Families in the World”
Friday, March 29, 2024
The former General Manager at Fete Music Hall in Providence is suing an owner of the club in federal court — who he says is a member of "one of the richest families in the world."
This week, Daniel Chatzopolous filed a federal lawsuit against Nicolas Bauta and Fete, alleging breach of contract for failing to pay him “the severance, revenue-sharing, and commissions to which he was and is entitled.”
In his lawsuit, Chatzopolous states that Bauta “is a member of the Weston family, one of the richest families in the world, which holds interests in various global businesses.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the Irish Times, one side of the Weston clan was listed as the wealthiest family in the country in 2020 and was worth at the time an estimated €11.93 billion [about $12 billion in US dollars].
Chatzopoulous — who is represented by attorney Tom Enright — in his 22-page complaint outlines a relationship with Bauta in which he says they were “like brothers,” after Chatzopolous became General Manager of Fete in 2014.
Bauta is a well-known figure in the arts scene in Providence. A RISD graduate, Bauta helped found the Steel Yard along with Clay Rockefeller, the great-great grandson of John D. Rockefeller.
Along with Rockefeller, Bauta, "The grandson of the Canadian food magnate W. Garfield Weston—started in 2001 with some big ideas and enough money to acquire the $1.4 million, three-acre Providence Steel & Iron complex at 27 Sims Avenue,” reported Metropolis in 2011.
Bauta then partnered with Don King to open the live music venue Fete in the Olneyville neighborhood, “Where it has become the center of a new creative community,” according to press in Fast Company in 2012.
Chatzpolous, in his lawsuit, says he was instrumental in turning around the financial situation of the Providence club.
“Mr. Chatzopoulos was extremely successful as General Manager of Fete, turning an annual loss of $300,000 into an annual profit of $300,000,” according to the lawsuit. “Mr. Chatzopoulos estimates that during his employment with Defendants, he generated between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000 in revenue for Fete associated with private events, rentals, grants, sponsorships, contractual agreements, and advertising."
It was when Chatzopoulos and Bauta looked to expand by working to open a new venue — called “The Rose” — in California that things broke down, according to the lawsuit,
Allegations in Suit
“[Bauta] offered Mr. Chatzopoulos the position of Development Director for the Sacramento project and represented that he would pay Mr. Chatzopoulos $300,000 to perform the work,” states the lawsuit. “[Bauta] also represented that upon completion of the Sacramento project, Mr. Chatzopoulos would serve as the General Manager for the new Sacramento music venue with a negotiated annual salary of $160,000.”
Chatzopolous says he worked 40 hours on launching the Sacramento project in addition to his duties at Fete, and then the pandemic hit, shuttering operations in Providence.
“From March of 2020 until August of 2021, Fete was closed due to COVID and, as such, Mr. Bauta was not earning any income whatsoever,” states the suit. “Despite this, during that entire time, Mr. Chatzopoulos continued to work, without pay, approximately forty hours per week toward getting The Rose up and running. In the spring and summer of 2021, he also worked, without pay, to reopen Fete. “
Chatzopoulous said he canceled a heart surgery in 2022 at the urging of Bauta in order to continue work on opening The Rose.
“As of November 29 [2023], Mr. Chatzopoulos was in the process of negotiating a significant sign-on bonus from Live Nation to handle bookings and promotion for The Rose,” states the suit. “On that day, Mr. Bauta, for reasons that have never been fully explained, emailed Mr. Chatzopoulos and told him that he had unilaterally decided to terminate the Sacramento project. Upon information and belief, Mr. Bauta’s decision to terminate the Sacramento project was motivated, at least in part, by a desire to avoid paying Mr. Chatzopoulos the remaining $200,000 and hiring him as the General Manager at The Rose."
On January 9, 2024, Chatzopoulous said he received an email from Bauta shortly after midnight that he was being terminated.
“The letter made no mention of the severance, revenue-sharing, commissions, or Sacramento-related compensation that Mr. Chatzopoulos was owed and had asked for,” states the suit.
Now, Chatzopoulos is suing Bauta, Archtype LLC (d/b/a Fete Music Hall), Sacramento Music House, LLC; Providence Live, LTC and Bauta on eleven counts, including breach of contract, negligent and/or international misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and retaliatory termination.
“We believe the complaint speaks for itself at this point,” said Chatzopoulos’ attorney Enright, in a statement to GoLocal. “Mr. Chatzopoulos does not intend to try this case in the media but may have more to say in the future if necessary to correct any representations made by the Defendants."
Multiple efforts to reach Bauta prior to publication were unsuccessful.
Latest for Fete in News
In October 2023, Chatzopolous was quoted after a musical act that was booked at Fete lashed out at the venue — and its hired security — following a show.
As GoLocal reported, the band “We Came as Romans” in a social media post accused the security at Fete of “spitting in our crew’s faces, spitting on gear, threatening physical violence & someone having to be physically restrained.”
Chatzopolous had put out the following sttement:
"We are deeply sorry that the events of Sunday escalated to a point where the bands and crew no longer felt comfortable performing. Fete Music Hall has been open for twelve years, hosting literally thousands of shows and catering to every genre of music imaginable and our track record speaks volumes. We do hope that this statement eases the concerns of those who have been reading other postings. Fete is, and will remain, a safe and inclusive venue for all of its patrons, artists and staff.'
In February 2024, Fete announced new management — and security — following the incident at the venue.
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