Des Plaines restaurant 'owner' a former bookie

When Carl and Paula Dote recently opened Cuzzin's Italian Comfort Food in Des Plaines, the couple hoped to showcase Paula's home cooking and grow their catering business.

But Carl Dote's past crimes as a mob bookie have raised questions about whether the couple's restaurant should have been granted a liquor license.

Convicted on charges of federal racketeering, gambling, and operating a sports betting ring in 2000, Carl Dote is ineligible to obtain a liquor license in Illinois. He served just over a year in prison and was on probation for three years after.

Since then, "I have had zero contact with any form of gambling legal or illegal," Dote said.

In Chicago, even spouses of convicted felons cannot obtain liquor licenses. However, that is not the case under current state law and every community makes its own rules.

The Illinois Attorney General's Office and Illinois Liquor Control Commission now are reviewing whether proper procedure was followed with Cuzzin's licensing.

Paula Dote is listed as the sole owner of Cuzzin's, at 1881 Oakton St. and River Road, on the business and liquor licenses issued by the city of Des Plaines. Yet, Dote himself acknowledges the restaurant is "their business" and he has repeatedly referred to himself as a co-owner because he says he views the restaurant as marital property.

"Don't I own half of what she owns and doesn't she own half of what I own?" the 61-year-old Dote asked. "We weren't trying to go around the law or do anything like that. There was no intent there, other than we were trying to start another business, that's it. We didn't do anything wrong."

Dote said if needed he would add his name to the liquor license application.

"If I have done something wrong, I'll correct it," he said. "I'll give them whatever paperwork they want. I'll go apply myself."

He added, if he were then denied the liquor license, he would appeal the case.

Dote said his wife does own the business on paper, but his name appears on the building lease for Cuzzin's, which he signed on the building owner's request and he gave his personal guarantee for the restaurant.

The Dotes were recently interviewed on WTTW-Channel 11's "Check, Please!" show, which aired Jan. 23, about another restaurant they manage in Melrose Park, Danny's Cafe and Deli. In that interview, Dote again identifies himself as the owner and wife Paula as co-owner.

However, the name on the liquor license for that restaurant is Linda Scavo, wife of retired Melrose Park police Chief Vito Scavo, who in February was sentenced to six years in prison for strong-arming local businesses to hire his private security business, according to media reports.

Following the "Check, Please!" interview, Des Plaines city officials received an anonymous call inquiring how the liquor license was issued to the Dotes, prompting officials to refer the matter to state regulators for review.

"From the information that was provided to us, they followed our procedures," Des Plaines Liquor Commissioner and Mayor Marty Moylan said. "We can only go so far as search what information is provided to us. The (restaurant's) articles of incorporation doesn't have his name on it."

Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the liquor commission would confirm whether they have launched an investigation of the Dotes. The commission is the ultimate authority on all liquor licenses.

"When we hear about a possible violation we open an investigation," said Sue Hofer, spokeswoman for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. "And we do not have a precedent to presume that both spouses are involved when only one is listed."

Hofer said the "Check, Please!" interview did raise eyebrows because Dote was the one doing all the talking.

Hofer said it is the city's responsibility to ensure the proper paperwork is filed.

"We won't even consider a liquor license until a local municipality or county issues one," Hofer said. "And that's because it's our belief that they know the people in their community so they will do the due diligence and issue the license and we review what they've provided us and issue it."

She added that a felon is prohibited from obtaining a liquor license unless that person has been deemed rehabilitated by the local community.

Moylan said he didn't know whether Dote represented himself as the owner of Cuzzin's when he attended the restaurant's grand opening, nor was he aware of his past criminal history.

Dote doesn't deny his crimes, but believes he has paid his debt to society and that he and his wife should not be further punished.

"I did what I did. I served my time and I'm done, and I feel like this should stop," Dote said. "I'm not a criminal any longer. My wife and I are trying to make a legitimate living and isn't that what you're supposed to do when you rehabilitate?"

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