Oscar’s owner responds to Plaza Theatre’s claims in ongoing dispute
Luis Avila
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A public dispute between Oscar’s Palm Springs and the Plaza Theatre continues to escalate, with both sides offering conflicting accounts of negotiations over a room located inside the Oscar’s building.
The disagreement centers on a space the Plaza Theatre has used to support performers, known as the ‘green room.’ Oscar’s owner Dan Gore says the theater wants complete control of it, but believes he should be compensated because the space is part of his lease.
Gore said the relationship between Oscar’s and the theater changed after Oak View Group took over management of the Plaza Theatre.
Gore invited News Channel 3 inside the room. According to Gore, the room is uniquely valuable because it provides direct access to the Plaza Theatre’s backstage area and connects to six dressing rooms.
In a statement, the Plaza Theatre said it approached Oscar’s in 2024 about subleasing the space. The theater claims Gore instead requested that either the Plaza Theatre or the property owner buy out his entire business lease.
Gore disputes that account.
He showed News Channel 3 emails he says demonstrate the buyout proposal was only discussed after months of negotiations, when he believed the theater was unwilling to compensate him for continued use of the green room.
“I said that wouldn’t be a problem as long as I’m compensated because for the last several years prior to Oak View Group, I was compensated,” Gore said. “Not directly, trade or we sold booze and food to the theater patrons.”
The Plaza Theatre also said it offered several incentives during negotiations, including preferred caterer status, promotion and sale of pre-show dinners, and waived fees for use of Plaza Theatre facilities.
Gore says those proposals did not replace the value of the revenue Oscar’s previously received through its relationship with the theater.
“It was like, ‘No, you’re going to give us everything, in exchange for maybe helping you,'” Gore said. “It was all maybe.”
Gore also says the changes have not only impact Oscar’s, but the theater as well.
“They continue to do events and they stage events outside behind the library by the trash can area… because they refuse to even ask me for help,” Gore said. “I’m here to help us as a group and help the community as a group.”
The Plaza Theatre continues to deny Gore’s allegations, saying it negotiated in good faith and that any business challenges facing Oscar’s are unrelated to its actions.
News Channel 3 has reached out to Oak View Group for additional comment.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.