D Wade’s Place sues D. Wade
Last August, Heat guard Dwyane Wade and a company called D Wade’s Place signed a contract to open restaurants with Wade’s name on them. In exchange, Wade would receive a 10 percent interest in the business.
Almost a year later, two D. Wade’s Sports Grills have opened and shut – one each in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale – and D Wade’s Place is suing the Olympics-bound Wade for breach of contract.
In the suit filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Friday, D Wade’s Place representatives Mark Rodberg and Richard von Houtman allege Wade breached the contract by not making the required marketing and promotional appearances on behalf the restaurants. That has led to the restaurants’ failure and delay in opening a third location in Aventura, the suit says. The Boca location closed a couple of months ago; the Fort Lauderdale one was shut June 12.
The company is seeking more than $15,000 in damages plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
But according to Steven Peretz, an attorney representing Wade, it’s the star basketball player who has been hurt by the arrangement. He said Wade, who has met his promotional obligations, told company officials in May to concentrate on its existing businesses “before he’d agree to have any expansion of the restaurants take place.”
“If anything, Dwyane has a concern that the value of his name has been tarnished by ceasing operation of the restaurants,” Peretz said, adding that it was Wade who tried to put the brakes on the company from growing too quickly. “This is an instance where D. Wade called a timeout on the expectation of the restaurants. The pilot restaurants have not shown any record for success.”
Peretz said Wade also has the right to view the company’s finances, but the business has failed to share any meaningful information.


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I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over six years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:42 PM
I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over six years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:42 PM
I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over six years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:42 PM
I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over six years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:41 PM
I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over six years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:41 PM
I recently applied at the new location in Aventura. Now I have been in the restaurant business for over five years from managing, serving, bartending, food preparation you name it, I've been there. The first couple of days I saw the name "D-Wade" boy oh boy was I excited. Then I went to apply and his name isn't there anymore. Now I agree about the advertising and promoting. Of course it should be alot of promoting going on. As far as the location, it's a good location due to the restaurant Houston's, Morton's steakhouse, etc. With the competition, Dwade's name stands out more than the other's. But come on, do people have to actually drive pass to know the restaurant exists? The restaurant needs flyers, commercials, posters. I hope they're not removing his name because I think that's the only way the restaurant will make it. It's too much competition. Houston's parking lot lets you know that they're business is booming. The only way that location itself will make it is off D-wade's name. With all the commotion going on, I'd rather stay where i'm at. They are having problems before things can get situated. I think I'll pass. I'm not going through with it and they turn around two months later then close down. That sucks. As of my opinion, they shouldn't open the restaurant if its so many major issues going on before they open. Whats the big rush anyhow?
Posted by: TIFF | September 2, 2008 4:41 PM
Sarah Talalay after reading your article and doing a little research I have found Sarah Talalay hails from Chicago IL. I also found a blog in the Chicago Tribune that you and Wade’s agent (Henry Thomas) go way back. I have begun to wonder if you may have gone to the same school as Wade or Thomas. After rereading your article and others they look like a paid PR campaign for Wade. Well it must be nice you still have your job at the paper and maybe even at the Wade press office. I wonder if your editor would like you moonlighting? Keep up the fair and balance reporting (oops that is Fox News sorry).
Posted by: WEbeITT | July 23, 2008 11:50 PM
WADE WADE WADE I was working at the Fort Lauderdale D Wade’s when they had the VIP and the Privet parties for Wade. Everyone forgets the ones who lost their jobs when the restaurant closed. You say Wade is being wronged, I saw a different Wade. He wants to have the girl with the blonde hair serve his table. The night of the VIP party he got 3 of girls working to walk out of work and hop in his car and leave. Leaving the rest of us to make up for the lost workers tables. The people that worked there and the owners worked their butts off to make the restaurant the way Wade wanted it to be, from the food to the way the building looked and felt like.
As far as the Law Suit I had heard was for more than $25,000,000, that’s a lot of money I wonder if we will see any of it to make up for our lost jobs. Also I know of 2 times Wade was suppose to come to events at the Fort Lauderdale location and he didn’t show up, 1 was the time ESPN’s radio broadcast was there for almost the whole day and Wade never showed up to sigh basket ball’s that were to be given away as prizes. For that matter at the VIP event Wade won’t even stand in a photo with people that asked or sign shirts for the fans that helped him make the money he makes. I guess time will tell what Wade is about, I think it will show he’s about the FLASH and the CASH!
Posted by: WEbeITT | July 23, 2008 10:53 PM