Alaskan Pel'meni owner David Bonk failed to appear in court Tuesday to contest his restaurant's eviction by Madison Property Management.
Bonk took over the restaurant at 505 State St. after an extended legal battle with former owner Paul Schwoerer, but Pel'meni has remained closed since Dec. 2005. Bonk and Schwoerer were partners at the original Pel'meni in Juneau, Alaska.
MPM attorney Michael Greiber said he expected Bonk to appear in court Tuesday. After the hearing, Greiber said MPM would retake Pel'meni, dooming the restaurant.
But by Tuesday evening, Greiber said he had spoken with Bonk and that negotiations between MPM and Pel'meni had resumed. I don't know if I am comfortable to talk about it outright,\ Greiber said of the conversation with Bonk. ""But he has agreed to make the rent payments, and the project will continue to move forward.""
Greiber said Pel'meni would need several months to build business before catching up on back payments. If the restaurant is still unable to pay rent, Greiber said, MPM might move again to retake the property.
Bonk was not available for comment Tuesday. However, in January prospective manager Ken Lowe said the restaurant would reopen after minor construction. In February, Lowe again claimed the restaurant would reopen before the end of the month. Pel'meni, however, has remained closed with only a small sign on its door promising a return to business.
""Pel'meni is and always will be about fun and love,"" Lowe wrote in an e-mail in January. ""I came all the way from Alaska because I believe in what we're doing and I am very much looking forward to meeting and having a great time with the people of Madison.""
Lowe, who did not return requests for an interview Tuesday, said Bonk did not want to comment publicly about Pel'meni.
Speculation about the restaurant has been fueled in recent weeks by several MPM letters and notices posted on Pel'meni's door. A note informing Bonk of his and the restaurant's eviction was posted last week.
For neighboring businesses, Pel'meni remains a mystery. Havvah Nicholes, manager of Art Gecko, 507 State St., works next door to the empty restaurant.
""I think I saw an eviction notice on their door, and there's a sign that says that they're going to be opening up in a couple of days,"" Nicholes said. ""But that's been up for about a month now. \
