Director of Caxton St venue says he’s doing his best to pay debts including a not-for-profit business

The director of a troubled Caxton St venue who lists a multimillion-dollar Gold Coast penthouse as his address has yet to pay a $650 bill to a not-for profit organisation.

A glimpse of the two level penthouse apartment at Main Beach which Glenn Gration lists as his home address with ASIC. Pic: Supplied

THE director of a troubled Caxton St venue who lists a multimillion-dollar Gold Coast penthouse as his address has yet to pay a $650 bill to a not-for profit organisation.

The Blues Association of South East Queensland (BASEQ) has been waiting since May to recoup $650 for organising a jam session at Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall.

Last month, the director of the company which is the licensee for Lefty’s, Glenn Gration told The Courier-Mail that the “matter had been resolved” with BASEQ.

BASEQ president Paulette Steele said they had been promised in an email (seen by The Courier-Mail) that the $650 would be paid via four $162.50 instalments.

Several businesses allege they are owed money for work performed at Lefty's Old Time Music Hall including a not-for-profit organisation. Pic: Darren Cartwright

She said the first instalment was met, but it had been a fortnight since that payment and they had yet to receive the second instalment.

“We have paid the musicians and jam co-ordinator the entire $650, so we are out of pocket,” Ms Steele said.

“We don’t make any profit out of the gigs we organise and it’s disappointing to be waiting this long to be paid for a jam session held five months ago.”

Arklow Pty Ltd is the licensee for Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall and the sole director is Mr Gration.

According to ASIC, the shareholders for Arklow Pty Ltd are Leftbar Pty Ltd (64 shares), Joy Mary Redmond (20) and Urban Asset Management No 2 Pty Ltd (16) of which Mr Gration is the sole director and shareholder.

The latest revelation follows allegations that debts owned by three Caxton St venues, under Mr Gration’s sole directorship, had topped $200,000 after more businesses recently claimed they had outstanding invoices.

Glenn Gration, the director of companies behind three Caxton St venues, says he's doing his best to “resolve payment issues”. Pic: Facebook

Mr Gration is also the director of the companies that are the licensees for neighbouring Caxton St venues Enzo & Sons and Ruby Tramp.

Queensland Private Security boss Chandeep Bindra alleged they were owed about $14,000 for providing guards for Lefty’s over a two-month period earlier this year.

Quickfire Firewood owner Len Arkadieff said his three decade-old business was owed $1,865 for half a dozen deliveries to Enzos & Sons between January 10 and April 8.

Lightcore director Dean Brosnan and Lyle Rodgers from UPLEC Solutions allege they are collectively owed $13,000 for work performed at Enzo & Sons and Ruby Tramp earlier this year.

Mr Gration has previously stated that $2500 had been paid towards the outstanding invoices, of which there is “an ongoing dispute.”

There was also a $160,000 lawsuit lodged in May against the companies behind all three venues although Mr Gration has previously stated they are in an “ongoing dispute regarding allegations of overcharging,”

Mr Gration said they were working to resolve all outstanding payments including the outstanding monies owed to BASEQ.

“We are working with all parties to resolve all payment issues and focusing on rebuilding the businesses and regenerating the Caxton Street precinct,” he said.

Soon after Mr Gration was sent questions regarding BASEQ, Ms Steele contacted The Courier-Mail to say Lefty’s management had subsequently contacted her and promised payment.

Mr Gration lists his address with ASIC as a penthouse which spreads over two levels at Main Beach and was last listed for sale in August 2018 for $2.25 million.

A glimpse of the two level penthouse apartment at Main Beach which Glenn Gration lists as his home address with ASIC. Pic: Supplied

The apartment was also the subject of a Brisbane Supreme Court order against a company which Mr Gration was the sole director in September 2014.

The default judgment in favour of the plaintiff, Spa Investments Pty Ltd, ordered that Signature Portfolio Management No. 4 Pty Ltd pay $1.502 million, which included liquidated debt and interest.

It also ordered that plaintiff recover the possession of the property, which has the same address that Mr Gration lists with ASIC, on MacArthur Parade at Main Beach.

“The matter from 2014 has been resolved,” Mr Gration told The Courier-Mail.

Mr Gration also lists with ASIC a multimillion-dollar waterfront property at Paradise Point as his home address for Signature Portfolio Management No 4 Pty Ltd.

Mr Gration did not respond to questions about at which of the two addresses he resides.

The 2014 civil suit preceded a default judgment in a Sydney Court in July against Arklow Pty Ltd for $11,200 in favour of Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd for ‘goods sold and delivered’.

Lightcore director Dean Brosnan (l) and Lyle Rodgers from UPLEC Solutions allege they are collectively owed $13,000 for work performed at Enzo & Sons. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Mr Gration had previously stated that Arklow Pty Ltd had entered into a payment plan with Coca-Cola Amatil although the multinational company told The Courier-Mail there were not aware of any plan and had not received any payment.

“The payment plan regarding Coca-Cola Amatil remains in the hands of our lawyers and we stand by our statement that it will be repaid in full by the end of November,” Mr Gration said.