09/20/2026
Hi
This is in response to the develop bixby post.
On being “surprised”: I was never surprised that the space was in jeopardy. I was surprised because we had an understanding that I would be the one to announce the closure, so I could personally tell the clients who had already booked with us — several of whom will now need to find a new venue for their events. I wanted the chance to tell them myself before it became public, out of respect for them. Could you imagine finding out that way I would’ve been so upset and I apologize so fiercely to you all.
It wasn’t only the clients I wanted to tell first — it was my family. I wanted them to know that I had tried. I didn’t want them believing what this man had said about me was true, or thinking I had disgraced my family.
On “concessions”: if what’s being called grace means that when I fell two months behind, late fees were added that brought an already large rent up to roughly double the regular amount, I don’t think that reflects the kind of grace being described. Just a sidenote, I opened in January. I started paying rent in February so February March April May, June I had paid it. I had paid even the rent on those months where it went hundreds over due to the late feels every day that month. The rent was due on the 5th. Sometime I didn’t have the money till the very end as being that needed the revenue from that month to pay the rent. Unfortunately that meant the rent was higher and I just kept falling behind more.
On the electricity: the air conditioner on that side of the building had broken during the summer, and we were unable to use the space as a result. I had to cancel events, and guests who did attend were left sweating through them instead of enjoying a comfortable venue. After I contacted the owner, I was contacted by their management team and told I was no longer allowed to reach the landlord directly for any reason, and that I would need to work through the property manager instead. I brought in someone to look at the unit, was quoted a repair cost into the thousands, and was told it hadn’t been serviced in years — this despite the fact that I had already paid, out of my own pocket, to bring the building’s air conditioning systems up to date. With no help or concessions coming from ownership or management, I contacted the electric company directly, but the bill was higher than I was able to pay. I asked them for a payment plan and was refused. My only option at that point was to have the electricity to that side cut off, which in turn led to more events being canceled and more revenue lost. Another cause of not meeting the rent.
On the court date: I did not know about it. I understand that’s disputed. — but there was no communication or warning from management or owner, personally, about any of this.
On the rent balance: after the electricity , ownership did finally ) agree to meet with me and property management. We discussed splitting the space so I could keep one side and reduce the rent burden. I followed up with a written proposal. From my perspective, I was waiting to hear back on that proposal since it was still an open negotiation. That process stretched over several weeks, during which I continued to incur late fees, and I was operating under the assumption that the late rent would not lead to eviction until we had come to an agreement. I probably should have checked in on it myself. I did receive a denial by email, but I’ll admit I didn’t actually see it until yesterday — it had landed in my junk folder. There was no call, text, or warning from management or owner, personally, that I was aware of. I was still waiting on a response to my proposal when I learned otherwise. The day of the post I was informed that he was given possession as I didn’t show up and was behind.
I want to revisit the rent structure for the space. When I signed the lease, I understood the base rent to be $6,000/month, with a triple net (NNN) arrangement covering insurance and related costs. I was not made aware that the NNN charges would bring the total to $8,000/month, and I would not have signed under those terms had I understood the actual cost.
Separately, I'm currently paying for building insurance out of my own account. When I raised this, I was told it's standard for both parties to carry insurance on the building
I want to apologize to all that have to read this. I didn’t plan on airing all this out and it’s highly humiliating to have to. But after the post was made airing out my personal finances and my personal life, I had no choice. I’m just one person who had a dream and made my mistakes. I created Sunny Rae because I wanted a space for everyone, including myself. I wanted a place my daughters could go to and be proud of their mom for building. The hardest client I had to tell that they wouldn’t get their event was my oldest daughter. She wanted to have her 11th birthday in December there and she wanted to host the event herself. She created a presentation with pictures, timelines, supply lists, like I wasn’t gonna have to do a thing other than show up. It was beautiful. 😍 I had to tell her it couldnt happen at Sunny rae anymore because it was no longer mine. It was the most heartbreaking thing to have to do. Every day she asks me are you sure that we can’t have my birthday there and I have to say no. I’m someone who loves God, loves people, believes that we should live in the way of Jesus. Thank you to the people who have came by the last few days. Sunny Rae brought me y’all so that I’m grateful for.
DON’T FORGET, WE ARE STILL HAVING A SALE STARTING AT FOUR. THERE’S STILL A LOT LEFT AND I GOT TO GET IT OUT SO COME MAKE ME A DEAL.
