Florida Espresso Store Proprietor Sues New York Actual Property Big, Alleges Fraud

Drip Espresso Founder Taylor Schear. Press launch photograph.

The proprietor of Drip Espresso, a single unbiased espresso store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has accused business actual property large Kimco Realty of fraudulently inducing the enterprise to signal a lease at a shopping mall slated for main redevelopment.

The lawsuit, filed in Broward County Circuit Courtroom by Drip Espresso working firm Sheer Hospitality, LLC, names Kimco and Cypress Creek Associates Restricted Partnership, the Kimco-affiliated possession entity for the Cypress Creek Station buying heart close to I-95.

After a buildout, Drip Espresso opened its inaugural location contained in the buying heart in September 2025, in response to quite a few native reviews. The espresso store has since closed. 

In a public announcement this week, the proprietor accused Kimco of utilizing Drip Espresso as a “pawn” to offer short-term lease whereas the property homeowners deliberate a redevelopment mission affecting greater than 100,000 sq. toes of the buying heart to make means for a Goal retailer.

“Drip Espresso alleges that Kimco dedicated fraud by soliciting leases they knew they might not fulfill,” a press launch from Drip Espresso, based by entrepreneur Taylor Schear, stated. 

Alleging the owner started main building and demolition work shortly after Drip Espresso opened, the go well with seeks $9 million in damages, in response to a report from The Actual Deal. 

DCN reached out to Kimco Realty, a New York Inventory Alternate-listed firm headquartered in Jericho, New York, for touch upon the allegations however has not but heard again. A spokesperson for the corporate advised The Actual Deal that Kimco disagreed with “the characterization of occasions and allegations.”

Public planning data reviewed by DCN present that the Kimco affiliate generally known as Cypress Creek Associates LP submitted a website plan for the proposed Goal at Cypress Creek Station on Nov. 11, 2024, following a preliminary planning assembly on Oct. 25, 2024.

A Jan. 16, 2026, Instagram submit from Drip Espresso asserting its closure stated the corporate signed its lease in 2024. The Actual Deal reported that Drip Espresso’s lease commenced in March 2025. DCN was not in a position to affirm when the Fort Lauderdale metropolis planning data have been made publicly accessible.

On the time of this writing, a Kimco Realty webpage devoted to the buying heart outlined a redevelopment plan to “demolish the vast majority of the buying heart and develop a Tremendous Goal in addition to present important enhancements to the stability of the buying heart.”

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