Photo by Adam Gurri.

Lydia DePillis of Housing Complex reports that the Reeves Center Deli, which has been at the 14th and U location for 20 years, owes a staggering $345,044.88 in back rent. Not only that, the rent isn’t exactly high – about $12 per square foot – less than a third of market rate. The owner, Fitwi “John” Tekeste, hasn’t regularly paid rent in 11 years.

So, in not exactly a surprising move, the Department of Real Estate Services is kicking the deli out. The District has a lot of budget problems, so why would it keep a tenant that owes $350K in back rent, when they could find a tenant that would pay pretty well for the prime location at 14th and U?

Well, with everything regarding D.C. politics – it’s not that simple. Tekeste contends that the Anthony Williams administration granted him a partial abatement in rent because he performed renovations on the space, but the renovations stalled when Adrian Fenty was elected. Then, in 2009, Tekeste says he had a verbal agreement with the Department of Real Estate Services to not pay rent while he was upgrading his electrical systems.

Tekeste contends that he is getting kicked out, not because of the ridiculous amount of rent he owes, but because of political reasons. He thinks that outgoing Fenty officials are kicking him out because he supported Vincent Gray.

Either way, he’s been ordered to vacate the space by February 21.