Longstanding Singer Island restaurant evicted after dispute with landlord

A 32-year-old beachfront restaurant at the Ocean Mall on posh Singer Island has shuttered after a bitter dispute with landlord Dan Catalfumo. Israeli restaurateur Solomon Kedmi, who has owned Portofino Italian Grill since May 2002, is being evicted after failing to pay $99,845 in overdue rent. Kedmi stoped paying rent in September 2008, after Catalfumo allegedly left the restaurant inaccessible during construction on the mall. Kedmi, who now must vacate the building by Aprill 30, said the construction caused a 98 percent drop in business and is suing Catalfumo for damages. He also plans to tack on to the suit the expected profit losses for the 12 remaining years on his lease. Subway franchise owner Ted Pappas similarly stopped paying rent at the Ocean Mall in August 2008, alleging that the construction hurt his business, but recently restarted payments. Catalfumo is planning an additional 60,000 square feet of retail space at the Ocean Mall, which he has leased from the city of Riviera Beach for 50 years.