Landlords sue to evict Savannah bar that has become popular among blacks

SAVANNAH - The landlords of a Savannah building are suing to evict a downtown nightclub that has attracted a growing number of black customers. <br> <br> City Market Associates claims Malone&#39;s Food and Spirits has been late paying its $12,000 monthly rent since October, made renovations without permission and has used the courtyard and booked musicians without approval. <br> <br> Malone&#39;s recently changed its format to offer more rap and hip-hop music to attract an upscale black clientele to its second-floor club, Iguana. Co-owner Tommy Tompkins says that move was not welcomed by landlords. <br> <br> The landlords are seeking a warrant to remove Malone&#39;s from the premises, as well as more than $600,000 rent for the remainder of the ten-year lease, which ends in 2006. <br> <br> The Savannah Morning News reported today that canceled checks show Malone&#39;s rent has never been more than ten days late.