Smokehouse Sued By Louis Joliet Mall After Closing

JOLIET, IL — If you walk through the food court inside the Louis Joliet Mall, you will find a black curtain draped behind the Smokehouse Of Joliet counter. It closed in May.

Lawyers for the Louis Joliet Mall have filed a lawsuit contending that Smokehouse of Joliet failed to pay more than $125,000 in rent while operating its restaurant at 3340 Mall Loop Drive.

According to the Will County civil lawsuit filed by the Chicago firm Polsinelli, P.C., Smokehouse of Joliet went out of business on May 2.

On June 22, the Louis Joliet Mall issued a notice of default against Smokehouse of Joliet, and on June 30, mall representative tried to serve Smokehouse of Joliet with that notice, "but (it) was returned landlord as undeliverable," the lawsuit states. "Landlord is therefore entitled to possession of the premises."

According to court documents supplied by the Louis Joliet Mall lawyers, Smokehouse of Joliet had owed at least $125,610 in rent and other charges under the lease through July 7.

"For each month tenant continues to occupy the premises, tenant will owe additional rent and charges to landlord under the lease," lawyers with Polsinelli stated in their court filing.

Attorneys David Vallas and Katie Curtis have asked a Will County jury to issue a judgment against Smokehouse of Joliet for "possession of the premises without terminating the lease, plus all rent and other charges due under the lease ... plus attorneys fees and expenses incurred by landlord in this matter and for any other relief that this court deems just."

Meanwhile, Joliet Patch also reported that the same Louis Joliet Mall law firm has filed a separate lawsuit against Crab Boil & Bar in hopes of evicting that restaurant from its premises.

Crab Boil & Bar owes several hundred thousand dollars in unpaid rent, the lawsuit states.