Sujaro African Art Gallery To Close

Despite a in April and solid business since,  is closing at the end of the month after a dispute with a neighbor, according to its landlord.

Mark Bottmeyer, who co-owns the storefront at 11 Throckmorton Ave., said Sujaro owner and Mill Valley resident Andrew Berz decided to close due to an ongoing clash with painter Denis McNicoll, who occupies the space at 15 Throckmorton.

“I tried to make some amends between the two of them but I couldn’t do it,” Bottmeyer said. “I like both of them – it’s too bad. Sujaro was a really nice gallery to have here. I’m sorry to have lost them. They have beautiful artwork.”

Berz declined to comment on the reasons for the gallery’s closure, only to note that he was disappointed because Sujaro was doing quite well here in Mill Valley.

Berz opened Sujaro in January. The firm’s first public gallery in five years expanded on a private gallery in San Francisco and served as a retail extension of an outfit that draws most of its business with dealers at national and international exhibitions and through its Web sites.

"Business has been great, especially with our textile exhibition and the continued support of the Mill Valley community,” Berz said. “However, with the backing of the building owners, we decided to end the lease and now, we're excited to be focused on expanding in other locations like Los Angeles."

McNicoll, the boyfriend of building co-owner Nancie Bottmeyer, acknowledged a dispute over noise that couldn’t be resolved.

Mark Bottmeyer said he’s looking for retail tenants to fill the 1,000-square-foot space

“I don’t want to have the place sitting empty,” Bottmeyer said. “It’s not that easy to rent space out right now.”

Sujaro is holding a closing sale through Aug. 31, with art and textiles on sale for up to 70 percent off.