Richmond judge rules Riggers Loft lacks right of possession; council directs eviction as patrons plead to save business

A judge recently determined that Riggers Loft Wine Company had violated the terms of its lease and no longer has a right of possession to the property, the Richmond City Council reported after closed session, directing the city attorney to proceed with eviction actions.

The ruling and the councildirection drew immediate public reaction at the meeting, where more than a dozen residents, musicians and business supporters urged the council to delay or reconsider enforcement and work with owners Kevin and Barbara Brown on a repayment plan and other accommodations.

The councilaction was reported by the city attorney after the meetingclosed; the transcript of the closed session lists the matter as “Surplus Property Authority of the City of Richmond versus Riggers Loft Wine Company.” The city attorney said the judge upheld the citylawsuit and found that Riggers no longer had possession rights, and that the council directed the city attorney to continue with actions to carry out the eviction.

During the public comment period prior to closed session, speakers described Riggers Loft as a community anchor. Kevin Brown, who identified himself as an owner, said the business had invested personal funds and repeatedly sought forbearance and payment plans after revenue declines tied to tariffs and the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbara Brown told the council she and her partners had invested about $2 million of their own money to renovate the site and asked to sit down with the city to reach a repayment plan.

Musicians and civic leaders said the waterfront winery and venue had been a rare local site for live music and community events. Gary Hurlbut, president of the Richmond Tennis Association, called Riggers Loft a vibrant local business thatattracted East Bay visitors, while Bob Roden, leader of the Bob Roden Quintet, described it as a local treasure that provided performance space and community gatherings.

Other public speakers, including longtime members and patrons, described the business as a generator of community events and tourism for Richmond and urged the council to negotiate. Several speakers said the owners had donated space for city events and that eviction would mean losing not only a business but jobs and a culturally active venue.

The cityreport from closed session is the only formal record in the transcript describing the judicial finding and the councildirection to the city attorney. The transcript does not show a public roll-call vote on the eviction directive; it records the council giving direction to staff in closed session and later reporting that direction in open session.

The counciland staff said further details about legal steps would follow through the city attorneyoffice. The owners and their attorneys indicated at public comment they sought to present repayment proposals and have said they were willing to negotiate.

For now, the judgefinding and the councildirection mark a turning point for the waterfront property and set in motion a legal process that, according to the city attorneyreport, will be carried out by the city attorney

Ending: The councilreport and the public outpouring leave Richmond facing a near-term legal enforcement action and continued public debate over whether a negotiated solution could preserve the business while satisfying the citylease enforcement. The city attorney has been directed to proceed; the Browns say they remain willing to negotiate.