Leopold To Close At Month's End; Lawsuit Over Misappropriated Funds Claimed Maison Brasserie

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Mar 25, 2013 9:00PM

Photo credit: Anthony Todd/Chicagoist

It was only a little over two years ago when Leopold brought a Belgian-focused menu to Noble Square. But the restaurant business is a hard one to enter and two years for some spots can be a lifetime.

Leopold announced Monday they would be closing after their dinner service March 30. Leopold co-owner Christy Agee told Chicagoist the space at 1450 W. Chicago Ave. would be taken over by new ownership and re-opening with a new name and new concept in a couple months.

This is the second European-themed restaurant to close at the end of March. Last week Maison Brasserie announced it was closing. Crain's Chicago Business followed up that news with a report that owners Peter Drohomyrecky and Sue Kim-Drohomyrecky were sued by an affiliate of Magellan Development Group, which manages Lakeshore East where Maison is located.

Magellan Restaurant Funding Co. LLC claims in the suit the Drohomyreckys "misappropriated and diverted loan proceeds and business receipts for personal use" intended to develop Maison and Eggy's Diner. The lawsuit also claims the Drohomyreckys failed to pay federal employment and withholding taxes, restaurant vendors and employees and state sales taxes and that at least $175,000 was placed into personal accounts. The suit was settled a couple weeks ago.