Waterbury’s Phoenix Gallery Faces Closure Amid Leasing Dispute
Local musician and gallery owner Joseph Pensak is fighting to keep his business afloat, launching a 24-hour piano marathon to raise awareness and funds. The co-founder of the Phoenix Gallery & Music Hall, along with his partner Anna Black, is facing possible closure of their creative spaces due to an ongoing dispute with landlord Mark Myers Mermel, owner of Whitehill Invention Five, LLC.
Backstory and Dispute
Pensak and Black, who have been renting their building since 2022, opened the Phoenix in June 2023. However, they received a lease termination notice on December 22, 2022, citing alleged unpaid rent and lease violations. Mermel claims over $200,000 is owed, while Pensak maintains they can prove all rent was paid within the specified timeframe.
In response, they filed a lawsuit in January, receiving a temporary stay against eviction. The case has since progressed slowly, with failed attempts at mediation, and additional legal fees have compounded their financial challenges.
Community Support and Future Plans
As the October 1 deadline approaches, community members, including local artists and business owners, have rallied around the Phoenix, emphasizing its significance as a cultural hub in Waterbury. Pensak’s piano marathon serves as a call to action for the community to support their efforts through art purchases and event rentals, while he continues to pursue legal resolutions to their dispute.
As the situation develops, the future of the Phoenix and its role in Waterbury’s creative landscape remains uncertain.
