Brew Tulum Owners Lose Lead Lawsuit Against Former Landlords

St. Louis judge rules against coffee roastery and Mexican eatery in dispute over alleged lead contamination at Central West End location.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A St. Louis judge has ruled against Brew Tulum, a local coffee roastery and Mexican eatery, in its lawsuit against former landlords over alleged lead contamination at the business's now-shuttered Central West End location. The owners had claimed unsafe lead levels forced them to close the restaurant in 2023, but the court sided with the property owners, Bridge Delmar LLC and Park Property Management, ending the long-running legal dispute.

Why it matters

The case has become a cautionary tale about the challenges of remediating lead hazards in aging commercial buildings in St. Louis, where the issue remains a persistent public health problem. The ruling may shape how landlords and tenants negotiate liability for contamination in pre-1978 spaces going forward.

The details

Brew Tulum's owners say a routine blood test for their young son showed elevated lead levels, prompting them to test the restaurant space. An environmental consultant found dust-lead concentrations exceeding federal thresholds. But the property owners argued they had hired a lead risk assessor who found no hazards, and that cleanup work was done once concerns were raised. The clash over the testing and remediation became a central issue in the lawsuit, which included claims of negligence and breach of contract.

  • Brew Tulum shut down its Central West End location in 2023.
  • The lawsuit was filed after the restaurant's closure.
  • The St. Louis judge ruled against Brew Tulum on March 9, 2026.

The players

Brew Tulum

A St. Louis coffee roastery and Mexican eatery that filed a lawsuit against its former landlords over alleged lead contamination at its now-shuttered Central West End location.

Bridge Delmar LLC

The property owner that was sued by Brew Tulum.

Park Property Management

The property management company that was sued by Brew Tulum.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The owners of Brew Tulum have not indicated whether they plan to appeal the judge's ruling.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing lead contamination in aging commercial buildings in St. Louis, where the issue remains a persistent public health concern. The ruling may influence how landlords and tenants negotiate liability for remediation in the future.