Two lawsuits from Shamrock Foods Company have accused Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade of failing to repay debts owed to the food distributor. The first lawsuit alleges that Mobolade’s Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House did not repay bills totaling nearly $29,000 and nearly $68,000 in 2018. Shamrock, which operates in 13 western states, is seeking full repayment of the amounts along with interest and attorney’s fees. However, Mobolade has denied any wrongdoing and instead blamed his former business partner, Russ Ware, who is also a co-defendant in the case.
According to a crossclaim from Mobolade’s lawyer, Ware has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities and stealing funds from the business. Ware was also a part-owner of the Latin-fusion restaurant and music venue Epiphany, which closed in 2022 amidst allegations of fund misuse. In his mayoral campaign, Mobolade addressed questions about his connection to Ware and stated that he had confronted his business partner and reported the incident to law enforcement in order to protect residents from someone who had harmed him and others.
After being elected as mayor, Mobolade stepped away from his involvement in the two cafes as required by the city charter. The businesses are currently being operated by Abbey Mobolade, wife of Yemi Mobolade. Despite this development, Shamrock Foods Company continues its pursuit for full repayment of the debt owed by the coffee shops through legal action against both Yemi Mobolade and Russ Ware.