Fishmarket Complex Closes Amid Dispute, Slack Attendance
The Fishmarket, Baltimore's new $25 million entertainment complex near the Inner Harbor, closed abruptly last week, the victim of spotty attendance and a rancorous dispute between its owners and managers over multimillion-dollar losses.</br></br>Opryland USA Inc., the Fishmarket's management company, shut the doors Tuesday, laying off about 400 employees and taking customers by surprise.</br></br>The action drew immediate fire from Fish Market Limited Partnership, the Boston-based group that owns the complex. The group accused Opryland of violating an agreement to underwrite operating expenses and debt service for one year.</br></br>Nashville-based Opryland denied the charge, contending that the owners failed to provide daily expenses, requiring Opryland to add $4.5 million to the operation in non-contractual obligations. The entertainment center also has been hit by a dozen lawsuits by contractors ranging from architects to trash haulers for nearly $1 million in alleged nonpayment of services.</br></br>The two sides are continuing to negotiate, but Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke said he holds out little hope of a settlement.