Compton’s Vows to Fight After Landlord Alleges Breached Lease
Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In a series of recent Facebook posts, Compton’s Restaurant said that it’s being sued and threatened with eviction by its landlord.
The popular Broadway eatery that serves classic American breakfast and diner fare has been a Spa City institution for more than four decades, prompting supportive messages from many locals.
“Closing is not an option for us,” Compton’s stated in one post. “We love the business and the customers.”
The restaurant also vowed to “fight hard to continue to do what we have always done.”
Court records obtained by Saratoga TODAY showed that the building’s owner 457 Broadway LLC alleged that Shortorder Inc. (Compton’s co-owners William Maher, Sandra Compton, and Tina Maher) materially breached their lease, failed to allow the owner to enter the restaurant to perform work and make improvements, and failed to vacate pursuant to a termination notice.
457 Broadway also alleged that on July 1, 2025, Shortorder failed to pay its rent on time. (“We have provided proof that we have paid every month,” Compton’s said in one of its Facebook posts.)
As a result of these alleged breaches, 457 Broadway believes it’s entitled to a judgment of accelerated rent and additional rent owed in an amount exceeding $475,000 to be determined at trial, plus interest and attorney’s fees. (“If we lose, we are looking at eviction and around $500,000,” Compton’s said.)
According to the court documents, 457 Broadway LLC’s work on the building would result in the temporary removal of four restaurant tables. Shortorder sought compensation of $700 per day in exchange for removing the tables. After some back-and-forth that involved a lease amendment offered in exchange for a $700 per day rent credit, the two sides ultimately couldn’t reach an agreement. (In a Facebook post, Compton’s described the proposed lease amendment as “very unfavorable to us.”)
“We would not sign and just agreed to allow them to do the work with no compensation because we did not want to be evicted or sued,” Compton’s said. “At this time, they said [they] would not agree unless we signed the new lease. They decided we breached the lease.”
Compton’s also alleged that their restaurant has been dealing with frozen pipes, water leaks, dirt, fumes, and other issues as a result of construction work being done above them.
Compton’s called the whole affair “incredibly difficult, both emotionally and financially” and estimated that it could cost them more than $50,000 to fight their landlord.
“We were going back and forth for 6 months trying to figure out how we are going to handle it,” said Compton’s. “Deciding if we just wanted to relieve stress and not fight. Just look for a new location. The extra support we have felt over the last couple days made the decision easier for us. We are going to fight. We believe we have done nothing wrong. It will be a long battle and we are preparing for it.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched by William Maher in support of Compton’s had raised more than $2,400 as of Feb. 17. Presumably in an effort to raise more funds, the restaurant also announced that starting in March, it would be open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.
