Press

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Gran Havana Cigar & Coffee Lounge Timeline

Trial Brief On Gran Havana Legal Case

Writ of Appeal

Order of Stay

Ruling of Appellate Court

California Supreme Court Petition Denied

Appellate Court Trial Brief 2006

RECENT ARTICLES

Prop 90: Limiting the Powers of Eminent Domain
KPBS, 10/24/2006

Prop 90 provision has some worried
Union Tribune, 10/15/2006

Judge awards $1.25 million in attorneys fees
Union Tribune, 4/25/2006

Jury gives man forced from store $7.8 million
Union Tribune, 10/29/2005

Ruling Sets Off Tug of War Over Private Property
New York Times, 7/30/2005

San Diego Corruption Trial, 2 council members convicted of taking bribes
Union Tribune, 7/19/2005

Developers score in U.S. Supreme Court
Union Tribune, 6/24/2005

Cigar bar owner ends eminent domain fight
Union Tribune, 6/12/2005

"Grand Theft Building" movie about Gran Havana
Freestar Media, 5/30/2005

If you have difficulty downloading this movie please click this link Freestar Media

Supporters Rally For Property Owners
Union Tribune, 2/22/2005

End Eminent Domain Abuse Rally
Institute For Justice, 2/21/2005

Elections Captivate Workplace
USAToday.com, 11/02/2004

Cafe Blocks City Land-Grab
San Diego Reader, 8/12/2004

Muslim CEOs of U.S. firms fight terrorism, 'stop evil'
USAToday.com, 5/19/2004

Private property rights: In Florida, a win. In San Diego, a loss.
Townhall.com, 4/30/2004

City to condemn Gaslamp shop to clear way for hotel
San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/30/2004

City Condemns New Coffeeshop So Hotel Can Be Built

Owner Spent $2.3M; City Offered $3M

NBC 7/39, 4/28/2004

Cigar Shop Owner Loses Battle To Eminent Domain

Developer to Build Marriott Hotel

TheSanDiegoChannel.com, 4/28/2004

Best pols money can buy
San Diego Reader, 3/11/2004

“More than a few special-interest fat cats have weighed into the closely contested city races with late money. For instance, an outfit called 5th and J LLC gave the Republican committee a total of $10,000 in $5000 increments on February 10 and 14. Records show that the company is run by Ramen Samimi. He's the downtown developer seeking to build a 334-room hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. One of the parcels Samimi wants to build on is owned by Ahmad Mesdaq, who runs the popular Gran Havana Cigar and Coffee Lounge on the site. Mesdaq doesn't want to sell and has been fighting Samimi's efforts to get the city council to use its extraordinary powers of condemnation to take the land and business away from him. Mesdaq says the next hearing on the matter is scheduled before the city's planning commission on March 11, after which it is set to be taken up by the city council on March 30."

San Diego reinvents itself - and gentrifies
The Christian Science Monitor, 02/26/2004

"Ringed by silhouettes of palm trees and building cranes, Barbara Edelson stands on the balcony of her new loft apartment. Blocks from the Petco Ballpark, center of a downtown renaissance, she sings the praises of urban renewal. "This is intimate, human-scale community building in a downtown that used to close down on nights and weekends," says Ms. Edelson, who's seen the value of her condo jump $50,000. Blocks away, Ahmad Mesdaq says developers are pushing him aside, "abusing the power of eminent domain," says the Afghan immigrant, owner of Havana Cigar Factory and Coffee Lounge in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. "People are angry and confused on why a redevelopment agency can close down a legitimate business..."

CCDC recommends approval for hotel in Gaslamp Quarter
San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/29/2004

"The Centre City Development Corp. recommended approval yesterday of a
334-room hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. If the City Council supports that decision next month, the agency, which serves as the city's downtown redevelopment arm, will try to negotiate a deal to buy a cigar and coffee shop on a corner of the parcel needed for the hotel, a Marriott Renaissance. The shop's owner has refused to sell. If a deal can't be reached, the redevelopment agency likely will condemn the property..."

No Quarter for sale: Men with a common bond clash
over sale of Gaslamp Lounge
San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/12/2004

"Two successful businessmen. One coveted piece of property in the Gaslamp Quarter. The owner, Ahmad Mesdaq, runs an attractive cigar bar and coffee shop at Fifth Avenue and J Street. Ed Himmelberg has been unable to get him to sell, so he wants the city to condemn the land to make way for his hotel. Both men know something about land being taken away from them..."

Early arrivals soak up Gaslamp ambiance
San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/21/2003

"One blend makes you happy. One blend makes you mellow. But the blend Melissa Breslow and Nick Olsen smoked in their giant water pipe in the Gaslamp Quarter yesterday helped them take the early Super Bowl mania in stride. It's sheesha," Breslow said as she took a toke. "It's a tobacco that really helps you relax." Breslow and Olsen, two local residents taking in the pregame atmosphere downtown, were in the Gran Havana Cigar Factory on 5th Avenue, a place that figures to be busy this week. They didn't have a ticket to Sunday's game, nor did they seem to care a whit about that or much else..."

Media contacts:
Eric Montgomery
Public Relations Manager
Tel: (858) 752-2910