NBA star James Harden’s restaurant has racked up millions in unpaid rent, according to a lockout notice posted on its door.
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James Harden playing for the Houston Rockets
The landlord, identified as Midtown Scouts Square Property, posted a sign at Thirteen restaurant this week saying the locks had been changed because Thirteens Hospitality Group is delinquent on rents and other costs totaling $2.2M, CultureMap Houston reported.
Thirteen, the fine-dining restaurant at 1911 Bagby St. in Midtown Houston, opened in 2021, shortly after Harden left the Houston Rockets for the Brooklyn Nets. He now plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The restaurant underwent a redesign and incorporated a new menu from chef Siddartha Cadena in 2024, CultureMap reported.
Midtown Scouts Square Property is also suing Thirteens Hospitality Group, Harden and 13 Strikes LLC in Harris County District Court, the Houston Chronicle reported. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, claims $1M or more in damages.
The landlord claims that Thirteen’s lease ended in July, but the parties decided to extend it through October. Despite that, the restaurant owners failed to make monthly rent payments, pay additional rent based on sales and maintain the property to comply with local code, the lawsuit says.
The landlord notified the restaurant of its lease violations on Aug. 21, before terminating the lease, though it is suing for all monthly payments through October.
OpenTable continued offering reservations for Thirteen as of Thursday afternoon, though the restaurant’s phone was answered by a recording saying it was experiencing temporary technical issues.