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12th August 2020

Grant Cohen “the thief” – calls Lord Mayor Sally Capp for help

It was on the 12th August 2020, that The Block Arcade – Mr. Grant Cohen, now realising that their attempts to secure the Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ had failed, and the assets of the premises were soon to be removed, made a phone call to the Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

The phone call was a desperate attempt by the Block Arcade, Mr. Grant Cohen, to have Lord Mayor Sally Capp, an ambassador of the National Trust and Heritage Victoria, stop all of the assets from being removed from the premises by the new owner.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp with a background in law, assisted the thief Mr. Grant Cohen of the Block Arcade
As reported by the Administrator – SV Partners to the Victorian Ombudsman

On Monday 7th March 2022

I received a response from Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

She thought that Blocking me from her social media accounts, would prevent me from asking the same question of her since August 2020.

The question to Sally Capp was:

“Waiting for your response since August 2020, as to why you were involved in the ‘theft’ with the Block Arcade ‘thief’, of my iconic business.?”

That’s right Sally Capp BLOCKED me from asking any questions and seeing her social media posts.

I was further restricted on LinkedIn – just for raising a question against the City of Melbourne and Sally Capp account.

I have nothing to hide. Unlike Sally Capp.

I provided my identity papers to LinkedIn and am awaiting for my account to be unrestricted.

Sally Capp replies…

I had written to Sally Capp on the 20th December 2020.

Yes that is correct, in 2020. She never replied.

Since she was a little ‘shy’, in replying, I decided to tell my story, which included Sally Capp.

On the 10th March 2022, 445 days since my first email to her, she has finally decided to respond.

Why is all this happening?

Let’s go back a little.. to May 2020

On the 8th May 2020, SV Partners were appointed as Joint and Several Administrators by me, Kelly Koutoumanos director of FineTea Pty Ltd. t/as Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™.

On the 18th May 2020, SV Partners placed an advertisement in the Australian Financial Review seeking Expressions of Interest for the Company’s business and assets. A number of formal and informal expressions of interest were received (including an enquiry from The National Trust Victoria). Several formal offers followed for the purchase of the business and Company’s assets, including offers received from an entity related to the landlord.

The Block Arcade’s interest in the business and assets was only received subsequent to the Company being placed into Liquidation.

The Block Arcade attempting to move in after sabotaging the sale process

On the 4th June 2020, during the appointment of SV Partners, and whilst seeking Expressions of Interest for the Company’s business and assets, the Landlord (Block Arcade) served a Section 146 Notice on the Company, which effectively terminated the lease to the Premises and hindered SV Partner’s capacity to sell the Company’s business and assets as a going concern.

A clear intent from the landlord, Block Arcade to sabotage the sale of the business and its assets, with an intention to try and acquire the same for as little as possible or for nothing.

This Section 146 Notice formed part of the matters before the Supreme Court, and a commercial decision was made to allow the Company to be wound up. All endeavours to have the landlord (Block Arcade) negotiate with interested parties proved not only unfruitful but a hinderance to the sale process. A total of 47 parties had applied strong interest in the brand / business and its iconic status.

On 15th June 2020, the Court also granted a Judicial Sale Order with respect to the assets held by the Company in its capacity as Trustee of the Finetea Trust. The assets that formed part of the Judicial Sale Order included all physical assets and available intellectual property i.e. trademark, registered business name etc.

The landlord – Block Arcade and a related party Winchelada issued a Winding Up Application on the 16th July 2020 in the Supreme Court for my company FineTea Pty Ltd t/as Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™.

Prior to Liquidation, the Company, FineTea Pty Ltd, operated the Hopetoun Tearooms from its former leased premises located at Shop 1 & 2 and partial basement, at the Block Arcade, 282 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria (Premises). The Company FineTea Pty Ltd t/as Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ still owns the registered trademark of the Hopetoun Tearooms Established 1892 and Hopetoun.

On the 22nd July 2020, SV Partners accepted the highest offer received for the purchase of the Intellectual Property and assets alone.

The landlord, Block Arcade was informed that their bid for the assets of the Company was unsuccessful. But this did not prevent the Block Arcade from committing a crime of “Intellectual Property Theft”, all caught on CCTV.

On the 30th Jul 2020, the new owner was on site at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms former premises, to inspect all assets that they just purchased and to arrange with removalists the requirements of removing the assets from the premises and to book an appropriate time, for such to occur.

The Block Arcade, now realising that their attempts to secure the Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ had failed, and the assets of the premises were soon to be removed, made a phone call to the Lord Mayor Sally Capp. The phone call was a desperate attempt by the Block Arcade, Mr. Grant Cohen, to have Lord Mayor Sally Capp, an ambassador of the National Trust and Heritage Victoria, stop all of the assets from being removed from the premises by the new owner.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp, is supportive of these ludicrous and ridiculous claims, and makes contact with Heritage Victoria to immediately stop the removal of all assets within the premises (that have already been SOLD). SV Partners raises a complaint with the Victorian Ombudsman as to the unprecedented involvement of Heritage Victoria.

The following – excerpt – from the letter confirms the involvement of Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Mr. Grant Cohen, on the 30th July 2020

**SV Partners Letter to the Victorian Ombudsman (excerpt)**

“Heritage Victoria has not given any guarantee that the Hopetoun Tea Rooms “will remain as a popular high-tea destination for years to come”
25 AUGUST 2020 – HERITAGE VICTORIA OFFICER PERMITS – HERITAGE VICTORIA – JEAN CHEN

It is suspiciously timely that the sudden intervention of Heritage Victoria came at the request of Lord Mayor Sally Capp just a week after an offer from the landlord’s related entity to acquire the business assets was not accepted.

On the 31st July 2020, SV Partners were contacted by Mr. Drew Wilson from Heritage Victoria. Mr. Wilson noted that Heritage Victoria had been contacted that the removal of assets was being arranged, at the former premises of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms. Mr. Drew Wilson, notified SV Partners that no assets were to be removed whatsoever from the premises.

Mr. Drew Wilson also noted that there is a requirement now, to deal with the Permits Teams at Heritage Victoria to clarify the process and deal with the issues of removing any assets from the premises.

Mr. Drew Wilson made contact with the Administrator as a result of Mr. Grant Cohen calling Sally Capp for help!!

The telephone conversation and the request for the Lord Mayor Sally Capp to intervene, were confirmed by Mr. Grant Cohen on the 12th August 2020. On this date, SV Partners met with the landlord, The Block Arcade and Mr. Grant Cohen, at the former premises of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms. It was during this inspection that Mr. Grant Cohen, noted the Lord Mayor’s intervention to stop the removal of the assets, that were ‘suspiciously’ now labelled “Heritage Protected.”

Mr. Grant Cohen made false claims to Heritage Victoria and the National Trust that all assets are Heritage Protected and cannot be removed.

In 2016, my company undertook a major renovation of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms replacing 95% of the assets, with no items ever being classified as “Heritage Protected” except for the mirror and the stairs leading to the basement kitchen.

Therefore the claim that many of the assets are Heritage Protected is nothing more than a LIE.

On the 20th August 2020, Mr. Grant Cohen, desperate to relaunch an imitation of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ at the same location, resumes to steal assets from the former premises.

Mr. Grant Cohen, commits the theft of assets, before the new owner removes all assets they had purchased.
See CCTV pictures of theft

Mr. Grant Cohen’s security guard, was caught on CCTV (20th August 2020) removing the original Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ menu. Mr. Grant Cohen, instructed his security guard Mr. John van Roon, to access the former premises of the Hopetoun Tea Rooms and remove a copy of the Original menu, so that Mr. Grant Cohen, had a copy to replicate (Intellectual Property Theft), for his ‘passing off’ business and committing Trademark Infringement.

Mr. Grant Cohen, later on the day of the 20th August 2020, met with SV Partners, Ms. Christina Ferraro, at the same premises where the theft occurred, only a few hours earlier. Mr. Grant Cohen, did not make any mention of the theft to Ms. Christina Ferraro, however he did request that the CCTV system be shutdown as a matter of priority. Mr. Grant Cohen had just realised that the theft had been captured on the company’s CCTV system.

A desperate attempt by Mr. Grant Cohen to hide his criminal activities and much more…

Ms. Christina Ferraro – of SV Partners, agreed without hesitation to shut down the CCTV system. A breach to her engagement of Administrator/Liquidator. Mr. Grant Cohen was then recorded immediately making his way down to the locked cabinet and removing power to the CCTV system, whilst Ms. Christina Ferraro waited for his return in order to lock the premises.

22nd August 2020, the THIEF Grant Cohen, now LIES to the Herald Sun, “Heritage guarantee ensures popular Hopetoun Tea Rooms to remain”

In the 22nd August 2020 article, Mr. Grant Cohen, has continued his LIES to the Herald Sun, that:

“The 128 year old Hopetoun Tea Rooms have been guaranteed heritage protection and will remain as a popular high-tea destination for years to come.”

“The Block Arcade general manager Grant Cohen confirmed that the tourist attraction would retain its 19th century décor including the original black and gold glass frontage”

“A very special shout out to Heritage Victoria and The National Trust. Our beautiful 128 year old tea rooms have been saved. Will be business as usual at Melbourne’s very own Block Arcade. Where there’s tea there’s hope” – The Block Arcade (delusional response)

“Mr. Cohen thanked Heritage Victoria and the National Trust for helping to ensure the property would continue as Tea Rooms” – Mr. Grant Cohen and his LIES continue. See Heritage Victoria response below 25 AUGUST 2020.

“It’s a great day for a historic Melbourne building and it’s great news that it will be preserved and won’t be tampered with,’’ he told the Sunday Herald Sun – Mr. Grant Cohen do you forget how YOU tampered with the whole process – you THIEF

Another LIE, and with a pre-meditated intention by the Block Arcade to defraud me of my business.

“It is not within the capacity of the Heritage Act to regulate the use of a building or a shop. The Heritage Act regulates works or activities that involve changes to the building and fixtures, but not use.”
25 AUGUST 2020 – HERITAGE VICTORIA OFFICER PERMITS – HERITAGE VICTORIA – JEAN CHEN

As of the 1st December 2020, Mr. Grant Cohen launches a copy-cat business mimicking the Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™.

Mr. Grant Cohen commits the crime of ‘passing off‘ a business that has been sold and relocated. Committing Trademark Infringement.

The thief at the Block Arcade – Mr. Grant Cohen

The giving of a guarantee to the landlord has been disputed by Heritage Victoria when we questioned them, however given that they have accepted at face value the landlord’s assertion of heritage significance over items with no registration or evidence and refused to allow removal without an application being made with the landlord’s consent, it has in effect guaranteed the landlord that it can keep the Company’s property.

Furthermore, in recent email correspondence with the landlord (seen), the landlord has stated again:

“The National Trust and Heritage Victoria as part of the fabric of the highly classified Block Arcade and, according to our advice from Heritage Victoria, must remain….”
Email from the Block Arcade

The lengths that the Block Arcade – Mr. Grant Cohen has gone to, to steal my business, and discredit my family and I. personally are still being drafted for publishing.

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