After online rumors that the popular Tally's Good Food Café on Route 66 was closing, owner Tally Alame was quick to say he's not going anywhere.
However, he did say he wouldn't be able to buy the land where his restaurant stands, and made it clear he felt the church which owns the land sold it out from under him after repeatedly promising he could buy it.
Upon hearing his account of the cancelled deal, the church wanted to clarify its position.
The following statement was emailed to KRMG News Tuesday afternoon:
<i>Will Rogers United Methodist Church located at 1138 S. Yale Ave in Tulsa did consider an offer from Tally Alame, owner of Tally's Good Food Cafe, to purchase the southwest corner property at 11th & Yale. Tally's offer was considered at five different meetings of the Church congregation in order that the members of the Church would be adequately informed. Tally stated that he was unable to receive a bank loan and therefore wanted the Church to carry the note and mortgage for the property. The Church felt that it could not take that risk just as the bank apparently felt. Tally made several proposals to the Church, the final offer he emphatically stated that it was his final and best offer and he could not do any better.</i><br/><br/><i>Many of the Church members expressed very favorable remarks of Tally; how he is such a good neighbor, a Good Samaritan, how he feeds the poor and offers free meals on holidays. But, the terms over a five-year period was too much of a risk for the Church to take. He repeatedly stated, that his last offer was his best and final offer. His final offer was the offer that was considered by the Church congregation. Unfortunately, the Church congregation in an all-church member vote declined Tally's final offer.</i><br/><br/><i>We understand Tally's disappointment, but we could not take the risk of financing his note and mortgage in his final proposal.</i>