The planned Friday opening of The Chrome Cat, a lesbian-themed nightclub in Old Town that would replace Rendezvous on the Grand (see full story “New Cat in town” from Jan. 7), is in doubt.

Ingham County Circuit Judge Paula M. Manderfield granted a restraining order Wednesday sought by Douglas Cunningham, a Rendezvous creditor. Cunningham’s suit names as defendants Rendezvous owners Patsy McClure and Nancy Holcomb, Chrome Cat owners Michelle Taylor and Lisa Whitehead and building owner Thomas Donall.

Cunningham alleges he was not contacted about the sale. He claims to have been kept in the dark about the status of his investment. According to his suit, he invested over $50,400.

“I never gave anyone permission to list or sell any of the kitchen equipment or other property I purchased and allowed the Rendezvous on the Grand to use, as part of the business,” Cunningham testified in an affidavit.

The restraining order asks that cause be shown as to why Rendezvous should cease to operate.

Cunningham said today that a meeting would be held Friday morning between all the parties and Manderfield.

This afternoon, Taylor said she believed the bar would still open as planned Friday, but she would update the bar’s Web site at www.myspace.com/thechromecat if anything changed.

City Pulse will bring you more on this story as it develops.