Pihakis faces more than $8 million in new lawsuits over shuttered restaurants
PRG was already navigating lawsuits totaling more than $1 million for unpaid bills and liens topping more than $14.7 million.
Mason Reed 
The legal pressure continues to mount for the Pihakis Restaurant Group (PRG), which was hit with a fresh wave of court filings this Tuesday seeking more than $8 million in damages. This latest development follows an already difficult period for the group, which was previously navigating over $1 million in lawsuits for unpaid bills and more than $14.7 million in property liens.
Shelby and Jefferson County Legal Battles
Much of the current litigation is tied to properties that shuttered back in April, including a major development in Shelby County and various sites across Jefferson County. Among the most significant filings is a new complaint from Dunnavant Valley Dining in Shelby County Circuit Court. The lawsuit alleges that PRG Valley Post defaulted on a long-term lease for four buildings at Valley Post, with claims totaling approximately $7.35 million. According to court documents, rent payments ceased in December 2025, the same month the development originally opened. The site previously hosted Hero Diner, Luca & Lucy, Little Donkey, and Rodney Scott BBQ.
Developer Mike Mouron is pursuing these damages on top of existing liens already placed on the property.
Broadening Financial Strain
The Pihakis Restaurant Group is facing multiple fronts in Jefferson County as well. A suit filed Tuesday by Third Avenue South LLC seeks $589,062 regarding unpaid rent and equipment for properties on Third Avenue South, with rent payments reportedly stopping in January. Additionally, MAM Investments has filed suit to recover $145,379 in unpaid rent tied to Little Donkey.
These actions arrive just weeks after a Florida-based firm sued the Pihakis Group—along with partners at three formerly owned restaurants—for more than $700,000. Meanwhile, attorneys for a meat company seeking $394,238.73 have asked a judge for a ruling in their favor, citing a lack of response from the restaurant group.
Beyond these financial disputes, the group has also faced an eviction lawsuit regarding office space in Birmingham. Despite the turmoil, three restaurants formerly under the PRG umbrella are continuing to operate under what appears to be new ownership.
