Pel’meni closes, will reopen in January under new ownership

Pel'meni, 505 State St., closed its doors last night at 9 p.m. after serving a packed crowd their last helpings of the restaurant's popular beef-and-potato dumplings. The restaurant will be closed until early January 2006, when it reopens under new ownership. Pel'meni was subject to an ownership battle the last year and a half between Madison owner Paul Schwoerer and the owner of the original Alaskan Pel'meni. The Alaskan owner accused Schwoerer of stealing from him, and Schwoerer discovered he was not included on the restaurant's ownership agreement. The Alaskan owner filed a lawsuit against Schwoerer, and the two were locked in a battle for control of the restaurant. Pel'meni employees encourage patrons to eat elsewhere, in protest of the new ownership, when the restaurant reopens early next year.