Events scheduled at Sarcoa must move to other venues

Events scheduled to be held at Sarcoa are being moved to other venues after a deal could not be reached between JEM Hospitality and Hamilton Waterfront Trust (HWT).

Just hours before the temporary arrangement between the companies expired, HWT released a statement Thursday evening saying, “Hamilton Waterfront Trust has been in discussions with JEM Hospitality to extend its current agreement with the Trust to utilize the former Sarcoa premises at HWT Centre through to the end of the September to accommodate existing event bookings. Although it was under no obligation to do so, in an effort to avoid the disruption associated with the cancellation of events during this period, the Trust had offered the use of the premises to JEM for a fee that was less than its costs.”

The statement says JEM Hospitality declined the offer.

Earlier this month, HWT posted a notice of termination on the doors of Sarcoa. The notice stated a number of issues resulted in a breach of contract by the restaurant including $226,072 in unpaid rent.

A spokesperson for JEM said in an emailed statement their business has become collateral damage to a dispute between Sarcoa and the HWT. “We have been advised that although we always paid our rent to SARCOA, it was not making its payments to the Waterfront Trust, which leases the property from the City of Hamilton.”

JEM Hospitality says they have reached an agreement with the Burlington Atrium and will offer clients access to three other venues that are “not far” from the Discovery Centre. “We are very disappointed that we have been forced to take this step. Nonetheless, we are going to ensure that our guests enjoy their special day in an excellent location,” said the banquet company.

Details about the new agreement are expected to be released soon. There are no weddings scheduled at SARCOA this upcoming weekend but the company says they do have confirmed bookings well into 2018.

A client whose wedding is booked at Sarcoa in 2018 says she was looking forward to the amenities the venue had to offer.

“It would be unfortunate if we weren’t able to utilize it as we are anticipating that we would. It’s a beautiful space.”