JJC Sues Renaissance Center Operators For $190,000

JOLIET, IL — Premier Events and Banquets, the restaurant catering company co-owned by the late Don "Duke" Williams and his wife, Maura, is being sued by Joliet Junior College.

Attorney Carl Buck of Joliet law firm Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol contends that the Williams failed to pay about $190,000 in rent and related service as part of their multi-year lease agreement with Joliet Junior College for use of the Renaissance Center in downtown Joliet.

According to records at the Will County Courthouse, the lawsuit defendant, Maura Williams, has signed her name on court documents presented by the plaintiff's lawyers agreeing that a judgment on behalf of Joliet Junior College be entered against her corporation, Premier Events & Banquets, in the amount of $189,938.

Joliet Patch left voicemail messages seeking additional comment with Buck, the plaintiff's lawyer, as well as Williams' attorney, Tom Osterberger of the downtown Joliet law firm of KGG.

Osterberger called back, explaining that Joliet Junior College "did a great job" of working with Maura Williams to resolve the matter.

"The money was owed," Osterberger told Joliet Patch.

Since early 2022, she and her company, Premier Events & Banquets, are no longer involved in operating the Joliet Renaissance Center, according to her lawyer.

That venue has been taken over by prominent Joliet restaurateur Bill Dimitroulas, whose company ARKAS Group, also owns three downtown Joliet restaurants: Juliet's Tavern, CUT 158 Chophouse and Mousa Tappas Bar plus Rosemary Cafe and Hamburgersia, both on Essington Road.

Osterberger said that many of his client's rent issues traced back to 2020, when COVID-19 hit, and all banquet halls and conference centers were forced to shut down, causing them to lose a substantial amount of revenue from events such as wedding receptions and business luncheons.

The civil lawsuit is the latest round of bad news for Maura Williams, whose husband "Duke" died of a heart attack last October at age 52. In addition to owning Premier Events & Banquets operating out of the Joliet Renaissance Center, the couple took over Rockdale's landmark sit-down restaurant, Syl's Chophouse, in 2019.

Maura Williams abruptly closed Syl's down after Christmas, and it never reopened. Syl's remains empty four months later. A new restaurant operator has not come forward to take over the Rockdale restaurant that opened in 1946.

After Syl's closed, Joliet Patch reported that the U.S. Department of Labor had fined Syl's for employing children to work there.

According to the Will County lawsuit filed by attorney Carl Buck:

Defendant admits that the Plaintiff has sustained damage on occasion of Defendant's nonperformance of the lease agreements, as amended, in the total amount of $189,938.00 plus court costs of and attorney's fees.

The total amount due is broken down as follows:

• $24,000 rent from April 2020 to June 2020.
• $106,000 COVID deferred rent payment from August 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.
• $50,860 rent from September 2022 through December 31, 2022, with late payment.
• $9,078 for Joliet Junior College police services.

JJC's lawsuit also states that "the defendant agrees that judgment may be entered against Defendant for those amounts and costs. Defendant agrees that no appeal will be prosecuted for this judgment.

"Defendant releases all errors that may intervene in entering this judgment or enforcement of this judgment and consents to immediate enforcement of this judgment."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Syl's Busted For Violating Child Labor Laws: Government

Syl's Announces Closing, Rockdale Restaurant Opened in 1946

Syl's Gift Cardholders: Great American Bagel Will Help You Out