I just signed the lease for a my new bakery in Kissimmee, FL and the coffee shop next door has complained to our landlord that my business is competition for her and has demanded that the landlord add a no compete clause to my contract stating that I "cannot sell similar single serve items as the coffee shop" in my bakery. Can she do that?
To build on what has already been stated, you have a signed lease (contract). The only way that lease can be modified, until the lease is terminated by its terms, is (generally) by a signed writing agreed to by both parties. You can verify this by reading your lease. Normally, this provision is towards the end of the agreement. It should say something like:
"This lease contains the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior written and/or oral agreements. This Agreement may be altered or modified only in writing signed by the Parties hereto."
Good luck! Normally, multiple restaurants/retail spaces/coffee shops help each other attract business rather than detract.
