Who can open restaurant in former Tilted Kilt in Elgin?

A dispute about who has the right to open a restaurant in the former Tilted Kilt in Elgin has delayed approval for a liquor license.

The building at 2300 Bushwood Drive is owned by Elgin businessman Rich Turasky, who bought it three years after Tilted Kilt closed in 2013.

In August 2017, the city's liquor control commission approved a liquor license for a Bushwood Lodge restaurant to be operated by Steve Dattomo. The license was contingent on an occupancy permit that was never issued.

In February, Turasky's wife, Melissa Turasky, submitted a liquor license application for a restaurant to be called Gifford's Kitchen and Social. The liquor commission was poised to approve that last week when Dattomo made a surprise appearance and objected, saying he still has a valid lease to the place, Mayor David Kaptain said.

The commission voted 4-3 to postpone the vote to its next meeting May 9 while the city's legal department looks into the issue, Kaptain said.

Rich Turasky is the founder and president of Capital Companies LLC in Elgin, which is part of a group that purchased and plans to redevelop the now closed Huntley Outlet Center. He and his wife did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

Dattomo emailed the Daily Herald a copy of a 10-year lease starting May 1, 2017, signed by Dattomo and Rich Turasky. Dattomo said he planned to open a sports bar and pizza restaurant, but Turasky later hired consultants who changed his concept and delayed the project. "He (Turasky) said it's his building and he can do whatever he wants," Dattomo said.

Dattomo said he eventually gave the building's keys back to Turasky, who said he'd pay Dattomo $100,000 to get out of the lease.

Dattomo forwarded to the Daily Herald a Jan. 30 email from Rich Turasky in which Turasky said he accepted Dattomo's termination of the lease and would prepare a document to that effect. But there was no payment and no documents were signed, Dattomo said.

"Either give me the keys or give me a buyout," Dattomo said, adding he has hired a lawyer and hopes to resolve the issue amicably.

Consultant Gina DelMonico-Williams, who answered questions on behalf of Gifford's Kitchen and Social, didn't comment on Dattomo other than to say, "We do not anticipate any further delays with the liquor license."

Gifford's will be "a casual eatery serving upscale comfort foods" including artisan pizza, burgers, pork chops and fresh salads and serving cocktails, wine, craft beers, domestic and imported beers, she said.

Jeff Murray, who worked as general manager of Ram Restaurant & Brewery in Schaumburg, will run the daily operations and staff members will being training next week, she said.

DelMonico-Williams works as director of business development for Weber Grill Restaurants, but the Elgin restaurant will not be a Weber Grill, she said.