Trump Burger Kemah Hit with Landlord Lawsuit After Filing Its Own Case
A legal tug-of-war has intensified between a Texas landlord and the former operators of a Donald Trump-themed eatery in Kemah, following a new lawsuit filed this week.
On Tuesday, Archie Patterson, the landlord and owner of 409 Bradford LLC, filed a lawsuit in Galveston County against Trump Burger Kemah LLC and its lease guarantors Roland Beainy, Barton Blakelock, and Tony White. The legal complaint alleges that the former tenants failed to reimburse Patterson for a variety of expenses he covered during their time at the location — including taxes, utility bills, repairs, and payroll obligations.
The lawsuit is the latest chapter in a growing dispute over the restaurant space, which has since been rebranded by Patterson as MAGA Burger USA after the previous business was ousted.
“The tenant encountered operational difficulties and requested financial assistance from my client to cover key business costs,” the suit claims. “These payments were made as agreed, but the defendants have yet to fulfill their repayment commitments.”
This legal action follows a separate lawsuit filed weeks earlier by Trump Burger Kemah, in which the business accused Patterson of unlawfully taking control of the property and evicting staff on June 7. That case, filed in Harris County, paints a contrasting picture — one where the landlord allegedly acted in bad faith to seize the premises less than four months after a five-year lease had been signed.
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Central to that dispute is a controversial lease addendum proposed by Patterson on April 16, which sought an additional $125,000 in 12 monthly payments. The document reportedly excluded bar equipment, alcoholic beverages, and the restaurant’s liquor license from the arrangement — a condition that Trump Burger Kemah representatives found unacceptable.
Attorney Geoffrey Binney, representing Trump Burger Kemah, criticized Patterson’s recent lawsuit, calling it a “forum shopping tactic” designed to sidestep the initial case already underway.
“The landlord’s lawsuit should have been filed as a counterclaim in our existing suit,” Binney said in a statement to Houston Public Media. “We’re currently working on filing a motion to dismiss it.”
Despite the conflicting narratives, Patterson’s camp maintains that his actions were a legitimate response to repeated contractual breaches. In a public statement released before filing his lawsuit, a spokesperson for Patterson emphasized that the property owner had attempted to resolve matters amicably before pursuing legal enforcement of the lease.
“This was not a hostile takeover,” the spokesperson said. “This was a necessary step taken only after continued violations of the lease terms and unsuccessful attempts at resolution.”
The Kemah location is one of several Trump Burger restaurants in Texas. Other branches are currently operating in Houston, Bellville, and Flatonia.
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As both parties prepare for their respective courtroom battles, the future of the MAGA-themed restaurant — and the broader brand itself — remains in flux.
