Kama Indian Bistro Relocating to Cafe 103 Spot

Editor's note: The original version of this article has been updated to include more information regarding the court case between Cafe 103 and Felix Lampariello. The earlier version incorrectly stated a judge's ruling and that the court proceedings were completed.

After months of legal battles have left Cafe 103 as an empty storefront along La Grange Road, a new but familiar tenant will fill the space: Kama Indian Bistro.

Kama is currently located at 8 W. Burlington Ave. in La Grange but plans to move around the corner to the space at 9 S. La Grange Road. According to Kama's Facebook page, the move should occur sometime in July. 

The Kama owners were not immediately available for comment about the move.

So what happened with Cafe 103? 

The two parties—Cafe 103 and building owner Felix Lampariello—have been involved in a legal battle this year. 

According to a complaint filed against Lampariello and 7-15 La Grange LLC in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Cafe 103 entered into a lease for the space and was later locked out unfairly. 

The parties entered into a lease agreement on April 30, 2012. The complaint filed states that Lampariello said he would have a buildout completed in eight to 10 weeks after the necessary approvals and permits were obtained from the village.

Cafe 103 planned to open in August 2012, but they state the buildout was not completed because there were code and ordinance violations that needed to be fixed. The complaint alleges that Lampariello never disclosed the violations. 

According to the complaint, the delay and lack of income caused financial hardship for employee Shirley Makinney, and Lampariello requested she sign on as a lessee. She later filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. 

"Shirley did not know, and did not believe, that such a filing would affect the lease," the complaint states. 

Lampariello's attorney, John Landry, said it did affect the lease, and accused the Cafe 103 owners of failing to pay their portion of the buildout. 

On Jan. 16, 2013, Cafe 103 was locked out of the space, and they were later informed that their lease was being terminated. 

The case was last in court May 2 and has been continued to June 20. 

Cafe 103 intended to be a cocktail bar and American restaurant, and also planned to offer in-house cooking classes and private parties. 

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