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A lawsuit, filed earlier this month by Luigi’s Famous Pizza, claims their lease agreement gives them the exclusive right to serve certain Italian dishes in the Lincroft Shopping Center.
While the suit names Tatum’s Table, owned by 21-year-old Tatum Menake, it targets the landlord—accusing them of allowing another tenant to sell prohibited food items.
Despite this, Menake has been caught in the crossfire—and says she’s now afraid to return to her own restaurant.
Luigi’s says they have a signed lease agreement preventing any future tenant from selling pizza, eggplant parm, baked ziti, and other Italian dishes.
The trouble started when Tatum’s Table, originally a brunch spot, expanded to dinner—posting footage featuring gnocchi and other new dishes for her brand-new steakhouse concept to social media.
Luigi’s co-owner Kelly Emerson said she initially had a great relationship with Tatum’s Table—even bringing them pizzas and eating there for breakfast. But once the dinner menu was announced, things changed.
When Luigi’s notified the landlord, Menake’s father, Danny Menake, allegedly responded: “I don’t care, I’m selling those items," Emerson said in a statement on Facebook.
When the landlord threatened eviction, Danny Menake snapped, allegedly threatening to break the landlord’s legs and saying, “You don’t know who the fk I am, I’m selling what I want to sell," Emerson said.
While the lawsuit targets the landlord, the public has turned against Tatum’s Table—and Menake says she’s bearing the brunt of it.
“I have a grown man with his own successful business trying to tear me down,” she said.
Since the lawsuit went public, Menake says she has received death threats at work and her restaurant has been flooded with one-star reviews on Google.
"...instead of resolving the situation professionally, I’ve been harassed and threatened," Tatum said on Facebook. "It’s disheartening that instead of seeing another small business in our community grow, some have chosen to spread lies and try to tear me down."
Social media has not been kind to Tatum’s Table, with many taking Luigi’s side.
“Your lease specifically states you cannot serve Italian. Why do you think the rules don’t apply to you?” one commenter wrote.
“After reading both posts, you seem to be in the wrong,” another added.
Some went as far as to say the fight could be the end of Tatum’s Table.
“At this point, Tatum’s will be closed within 12 months.”
Luigi’s is seeking an injunction to stop the sale of Italian dishes, while Tatum’s Table continues to fight back.
For now, the lawsuit is ongoing—but Menake says she’s staying far away from her own restaurant.
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