Louis' Family Restaurant Owner Faces Default Order: Lawsuit Update

JOLIET, IL — It took more than six months to find Louis Polimenakos, and now that that's happened, the Will County civil lawsuit against the retired owner of Joliet's Louis' Family Restaurant is moving forward.

A key hearing in the lawsuit against Polimenakos is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 18 before Will County Judge John Anderson. In late January, attorney David Stieper of the Stieper Law Offices in Hoffman Estates sued the longtime owner of Louis' Family Restaurant, contending that Polimenakos failed to make any of his monthly rent payments during his final six months of running the popular breakfast and lunch diner at 1001 West Jefferson St.

According to the lawsuit, Polimenakos had a base rent of $5,000 per month for 2021. In addition, there was an obligation to pay the tenant's share of real estate taxes, 28.5 percent. "Tenant failed to make all the monthly rent base rent and additional rent payments from June 1, 2021, through Nov. 31, 2021, totaling $51,593," the lawsuit states.

Meanwhile, a court order issued in September stated "the defendant Louis Polimenakos, having been served through special process server on August 1, 2022, that said defendant having failed to appear, answer or otherwise plead to the complaint ..."

Because Polimenakos did not show up on Sept. 15 for his hearing in the Will County Courthouse, "a default order is entered against defendant Louis Polimenakos and that this matter is scheduled for prove-up of damages" in courtroom 905 at the main Will County Courthouse, court filings show.

"No motion to vacate said default will be considered by the court unless attached is an appearance and proposed answer to be filed," court records reflect.

As of now, the amount of back rent sought against Polimenakos by the New Jersey-based landlord who owns the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center remains at nearly $52,000, even though the lease signed by the Louis' Family Restaurant owner back in 2012 indicated his lease would end on Aug. 31, 2024.

During an interview earlier this year, Michael Polimenakos told Joliet Patch that his father is in his 70s and trying to enjoy his retirement years.

"He's at the age everybody retires," Michael said. "My father is 74 years old. My dad was a faithful client for 30 years, and now they're suing an old man. We could have bought 10 restaurant buildings. They made plenty of money off my father.

"For 29 years, we were their best tenant, and we didn't cause any problems. My father was the anchor of the plaza, so when it's time for my dad to retire, it's time for him to be done. It can't go any longer."

Ever since Polimenakos retired at the end of last November, his former diner has remained empty. Last December, two of his sons opened their own restaurant at the former Bob Evans property along the Larkin Avenue exit for Interstate 80, naming it in honor of their dad, "Louie's Waffle House."

Earlier this year, Joliet Patch reported that the lawsuit plaintiff, TAEW LLC Series 1, is an Illinois limited liability company that owns 1001-1103 West Jefferson St. in Joliet, known as the Jefferson Plaza, and the landlord has been the legal titleholder of the property since Sept. 6, 2013.

Related Patch coverage:

Landlord Sues Louis' Family Restaurant Owner For Not Paying Rent

Louie's Waffle House Opens: 'We're Excited To Have A Nice Place'

Louis Retires: 'All My Life I Worked In The Kitchen'