Nederland’s Sundance Cafe is closing after the business’ owner said new landlords raised the rent beyond what she could afford.
Hilary Stevenson began working at Sundance in 1990, under brother-owners Hans and Aki von Mende. She purchased the business from them in 1998, but the von Mendes retained ownership of the property on the Peak to Peak Highway.
Hans von Mende (Aki passed away) sold the Sundance Cafe and Lodge property to father-and-son duo Kyle and Kim Schuler in mid-November for $1.035 million, according to Boulder County property records.
Stevenson said her rent increased by $1,000 per month in January and she learned last week it would increase again to a figure that Stevenson said was triple her original rent. The new property owners also asked her to pay $30,000 to $40,000 for building improvements. The last day for business will be Sunday.
The Schulers responded to a request for comment via email and said they could not come to terms with Stevenson for a new 10-year lease. The Schulers’ statement said they hope to have the cafe re-opened by May, and “are looking forward to the future with new tenants.”
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