Huf Worldwide was to open a RiNo store in January before pulling out of its lease, according to a lawsuit filed by its landlord. (Courtesy of Huf Worldwide)
Huf Worldwide pulled a 180 on a planned RiNo store.
The California-based skateboard brand rented 1,877 square feet at 2660 Walnut St., only to decide it didn’t want to move in, according to a lawsuit filed by the property’s owner.
Landlord Edens, a DC-based retail real estate company, alleges in a lawsuit filed Oct. 29 that although another tenant was eventually found to take over the space, Huf still owes 41 $377 of unpaid rent.
Neither party responded to a request for comment.
According to the lawsuit, Huf signed a seven-year lease for the space in August 2019 which was to begin on January 15 this year. The company then told Edens “it had no intention of occupying the premises and requested the assistance of the landlord” to re-let it before the start date of the lease, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit does not detail why Huf decided not to move in.
Huf and Edens reached a takeover agreement in January that granted the brand permission and assistance in finding a replacement tenant, according to the lawsuit. In August, Edens found a short-term tenant to occupy the space from September 5 to February 28, 2021 at a fraction of the rent Huf was expected to pay.
The skateboard brand is responsible for the remaining rent, but “has failed to pay the amount due under the lease,” according to the lawsuit.
Huf was founded in 2002 in San Francisco by professional skateboarder Keith Hufnagel, who died in September. The brand sells both skateboards and streetwear, and has Huf stores in other cities. There are none in the Denver area, although Huf products are sold at other skate shops.
