Eviction notice for Narsi's

Simon Properties Group, co-owner of Coddingtown Mall, is moving forward with plans to evict Narsi’s Hofbrau.

Stephen Beckwith, attorney for the popular restaurant, said Simon has filed legal papers to begin the eviction process. Longtime owner Narsi Samii will probably be served with a formal eviction notice Thursday or Friday, Beckwith said.

“This was expected,” he said. “It’s really Simon Properties’ only option at this point to remove Narsi’s from the mall.”

Simon, which is planning a multi-million upgrade of the 1960s era mall, canceled Narsi’s lease in October, claiming the restaurant wasn’t generating enough revenue.

After operating at Coddingtown for 25 years, the notice gave the restaurant 30 days to vacate.

Narsi’s challenged the move, winning a preliminary injunction against the mall in November. But last month a judge ruled Simon was allowed to begin eviction proceedings.

The eviction notice, called an unlawful detainer, gives Samii 20 days to reply, after which a trial will probably be set to determine if the eviction is legal, Beckwith said.

Despite some early discussions about moving the restaurant to another part of the mall, there have been no recent settlement talks in the case, Beckwith said.

“I think they are going to play the legal card first,” Beckwith said.