Brass Key up for sale
By Joe Nelson on October 1, 2008 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Brass Key, once a popular haunt for San Manuel tribal members until it became associated with a murder conspiracy case involving its former manager, tribal members and the Mexican Mafia, has closed.
The Highland Avenue bar closed Aug. 15 and its owner, San Manuel tribal member Greg Duro, is looking for a buyer for the 1,880-square-foot building north of the 210 Freeway and west of Victoria Avenue, said Ted Desmet, a semi-retired restaurant consultant who is working with Duro on the sale of the property.
Duro, brother of former San Manuel tribal chairman Henry Duro and uncle of current tribal vice chairman Vince Duro, bought the property in March 2004 and spent $200,000 in renovations over the last two years. Those renovations include new tiled walls, six televisions, a state-of-the-art surveillance system, new karaoke equipment, all new booths and tables and a new bar with marble countertop, Desmet said.
Asking price will be in the neighborhood of $750,000, and includes the license to sell alcohol and serve food, Desmet said.
"Whoever buys it can just walk in, buy some inventory and start operating," he said.
Duro decided his schedule was too hectic to be bogged down with the day-to-day responsibilities and upkeep of a bar and restaurant, Desmet said.
"He basically just doesn't have time and doesn't want to run a restaurant," Desmet said. "He's one of the owners of the casino, and has pretty much all he can handle on his plate."
Duro's Highland attorney, Frank Peterson, said the closure had nothing to do with any negative publicity surrounding the bar over the last two years, when its name surfaced in a series of newspaper articles about a murder-for-hire scheme in which the bar's former manager was the target.
"I doubt if there was any pressure from the tribe. It was a decision that Greg decided to make because he didn't need the additional hassel," Peterson said.
The murder conspiracy stemmed from a confrontration that occurred at the bar between San Manuel tribal member Erik Barajas, several gang members and the bar's manager, Leonard Epps. Barajas and his sister, Stacy Barajas-Nunez, accused Epps and the others of trying to extort $65,000 from Erik Barajas because they thought his brother was a "snitch," court records show.
As part of a plea agreement, the Barajases were convicted in April in that case, as well as Salvador Hernandez, 43, and his brother Alfred Hernandez, 39, both high ranking members of the Mexican Mafia, authorities said.
Also convicted in the case were Jennifer Murphy, 27, and Jesus Leyva, 34.
On Sept. 24, Epps sued his conspirators for $50 million. Peterson is also representing Epps in his lawsuit, and said his client has been living in fear and secrecy since learning he was targeted for murder in September 2006, when he was forced to fake his death and flee the state.
Peterson said there is no conflict of interest in representing both Duro in the legal matters surrounding the sale of the Brass Key and Epps in his civil suit.
Duro has known Epps since childhood, Peterson said.
There is no record of any disciplinary action or licensing violations at the Brass Key during Duro's tenure as owner, according to California Department of Alcoholic and Beverage Control records.
Though the real estate market is in a drastic slump right now, and even more so for restaurants and bars, there have been numerous inquiries from interested parties, Desmet said.
"Quite a number of local people would really like to have it," said Desmet. "The restaurant has always been very successful and well patronized."
Greg Duro is the sweetest man you'd ever want to meet. His family has absolutely no ties with Mexican Mafia types. I don't understand how someone could make that leap.
He takes care of his sweet, elderly grandmother, never holds a grudge and is often out of town. He's selling the Brass Key (which has actually been shut down for about 6 months) because people take advantage of him being out of town. His family and lawyer usually take care of managing the money the Brass Key needs to operate.
He's simply making a smart business decision in selling it because he is very busy.
By the way, Greg Duro is Henry Duro's SON, not his brother. Both are easy going types of people who are very charitable and genuinely good people to call friends.
You might want to double check the selling price of the place, too...Last we heard, it was planned to sell for 1.5 Mil.
Greg Duro is the sweetest man you'd ever want to meet. His family has absolutely no ties with Mexican Mafia types. I don't understand how someone could make that leap.
He takes care of his sweet, elderly grandmother, never holds a grudge and is often out of town. He's selling the Brass Key (which has actually been shut down for about 6 months) because people take advantage of him being out of town. His family and lawyer usually take care of managing the money the Brass Key needs to operate.
He's simply making a smart business decision in selling it because he is very busy.
By the way, Greg Duro is Henry Duro's SON, not his brother. Both are easy going types of people who are very charitable and genuinely good people to call friends.
You might want to double check the selling price of the place, too...Last we heard, it was planned to sell for 1.5 Mil.
I AGREE THAT GREG IS A SWEET GUY. A FREIND OF MINE USED TO WORK AT THE KEY. I HAD MET MR EPPS AND MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF HIM WASNT GREAT. HE WAS A STRAIGHT JERK TOWARDS ME AND THOSE THAT CAME WITH ME.GREEDY!!!
Leonard Epps is as worthless as the gangbangers that would frequent the Brass Key in the last 2-3 years of its operation before its closing. Epps admitted to many patrons at the Brass Key that his only business experience before becoming the manager at the Key was the selling of cocaine and marijuana. Epps faked his own death and hid out at Duro's house in Hawaii and upon his return, sued the San Manuel tribe for millions. Epps was just like all the other worthless people who took advantage of Greg Duro and his caring and friendly nature. By the way, Leonard Epps is back in San Bernardino and trying to cause more trouble as he was before.