The former general manager of Zona Rosa, Rosemary Salerno, filed a discrimination suit in January against MPI Properties, which operated as Olshan Properties while owners of Zona Rosa Town Center.
The suit was sent on to federal court in late February.
Rosemary Salerno
Salerno served as general manager of Zona Rosa from its opening in 2004 until her termination in early 2018. Olshan properties defaulted on the mortgage later in 2018 and eventually the Zona Rosa Town Center was sold to Trademark Property Group.
In the suit, Salerno alleges the former owners suggested she use funds from the charity parking meters at the town center to pay for daily operating costs. When she refused, she said she was fired, according to a report in The Kansas City Star.
From its opening until Trademark took over operations in mid-2018, funds from the more than 200 parking meters on the streets at Zona Rosa were donated to various Kansas City charities.
In November 2018, Olshan filed suit in Platte County against Salerno, claiming she was fired for using corporate funds to purchase equipment for her own private business.
In that suit, Olshan alleges Salerno purchased a plasma cutter and vertical air compressor. Olshan’s attorneys asked for a default judgement in January, which was denied by Platte County Circuit Court judge Dennis Eckold.
This case is set for bench trial before Eckold on Thursday, May 2.
In July 2018, Salerno was named vice president and general manager at Kansas City’s City Market.
During her 14-year tenure as general manager of Zona Rosa, Salerno was recipient of multiple awards from the International Council of Shopping Centers.