The landmark Canal Street building that was the longtime home of the Palace Café is set to be sold to a member of the Motwani family, but ongoing lawsuits from Dickie Brennan’s restaurant group have stalled the deal.

At issue is the historic Werlein’s Music Building , a four-story commercial property in the 600 block of Canal Street, which was constructed in the late 19th Century and was the home to Philip Werlein’s flagship music store. Dickie Brennan & Co., owned by Brennan, his sister Lauren Brennan Brower, and Steve Pettus, operated the Palace Café there from 1990 until its 35-year lease expired in June and the restaurant closed.

The Werlein family has now reached a deal to sell the building to Lenny Motwani, a member of the family that owns a wide array of businesses and pr

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