Complaint Review: Steve Kalifa

Steve Kalifa is a liar, does not keep his word, and negotiates in bad faith.  Do not do business with him or any of his companies under any circumstances.  You can not trust him.

Starting on December 16, 2011 I contacted him about renting a retail space in Manhattan Beach, California.  I contacted Steve Kalifa because his name and phone number were on a sign banner attached to the buildling.  After a couple of tries to reach him, we spoke briefly, he stated in was in Florida, and would return to Los Angeles after the 1st of the year.  Lie number one.

On January 3, 2012 we spoke again and he stated he was in Washington D.C.  Steve Kalifa said he would call me back but never did.  Lie number 2.  I called him back on January 6, 2012 and we negotiated terms for a lease for 5 years at $1200 per month with increases annually plus a five year option at a fixed rent.  I faxed him a letter of understanding the same afternoon with all the basic terms we negotiated over the phone to confirm and seal the deal. 

I called again on Monday January 9, 2012 to get a lease to sign, so I could get the keys and move in.  I operate a small business and after completing the phone negotiations with the liar Steve Kalifa, I stopped looking at alternate loctions.  Steve Kalifa told me that he would have his "lawyers" draw up the lease and get it to me right away.  Lie number 3.

During the time from January 9, 2012 to January 18, 2012 I called Steve Kalifa numerous times to get the lease that we had agreed to.  Each time we spoke he had a different excuse.  His "lawyers" were busy.  He was out of town.  His sister was managing the building and would take care of it. ALL LIES!!!!

Finally on January 18, 2012 I received via email a lease document to sign.   The document came from a person named Feisal Yussuf Reem.  I never heard of or spoke with that person prior to getting the email.  She claimed to be Steve Kalifa's partner or co-owner of the building containing the unit I was going to rent.  The lease that I received via email had the base rent at $1500 per month, 20% higher than we negotiated.  I immediatley emailed back to the lease corrected to the amounts we had agreed to on Janury 6, 2012.

Feisal Yussuf Reem included her cell phone number on the email with the lease.  I called her to discuss the error and she said that Steve told her the amount was $1500.  Another Lie.  Then she said because the space was in Manhattan Beach she would not rent it for the agreed upon $1200.  Another lie.

Whoever these people are, DO NOT TRUST THEM.  DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.  All of them are LIARS and timewasters.  I spent over 1 month from December 16, 2011 to January 18, 2012 trying to accomplish a simple lease of retail space.  Because Steve Kalifa is an uncaring liar, an unreliable businessman, and does not worry about possible repurcussions from his own actions, I lost time, money, and got stressed out to the max. 

P.S. I rented a different space and was able to complete the lease in 2 days. That is the way reliable, honest, professional people take care of simple business.