Mama D's Temporarily Closed—UPDATED
The restaurant, located in the retail center at Archer Avenue and Derby Road, will likely move to a different location in Lemont, according to the owner.
Mama D's, 12371 Derby Road, remains closed due to undisclosed issues with the bank that owns the retail center, located at Archer Avenue and Derby Road in Lemont.
The owner of the restaurant, who asked for his name not to be published, said he was shut down Thursday by Harris Bank, which owns Riley's Pointe, due to issues with his lease.
He said the restaurant will likely move to another location in Lemont, but he is not sure when or where.
Salon Moda, also located in Riley's Pointe, could also be leaving the plaza soon, according to its owner, Ed Chlebek.
Currently, the salon is without a formal lease, and has been operating on a month-to-month verbal agreement, he said. According to Chlebek, the bank has asked him to sign a lease for three years—something he is unwilling to do.
"I have an attorney and we're trying to work to work it out, but the bank is unwilling to negotiate or cut any of us any slack," Chlebek said. "Operating a small business is difficult and it's risky to sign a lease that long. They're just totally unwilling to budge."
Chlebek said he will likely have to shut down in the coming weeks or months if the salon if he can't work out an agreement with the bank.
Harris Bank has owned the building since it went into foreclosure last year, he said.
Riley's Pointe is represented by NAI Hiffman Commercial Real Estate Services. When contacted by Patch on Thursday, listing broker Lynn Zbierski declined to comment and said the inquiry would be passed along to the bank.
Patch was contacted by an individual from Harris Bank on Friday, and was told further information would be provided in the coming days. He declined to provide any official comment.
Riley's Pointe is also home to 3 Corners Grill and Tap and a number of other small businesses, including Dunkin' Donuts-Baskin Robbins, Welcome to Cleaners and a dental office, among others.
Jeff Metz, co-owner of 3 Corners, told Patch the restaurant is already operating under a lease and has not had any issues with Harris Bank.
"Everything is fine on our end, and we don't expect that to change," Metz said.
In This article
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Mama D's
12420 Archer Ave Unit G, Lemont, IL -
3 Corners Grill & Tap
12371 Derby Rd, Lemont, IL -
Dunkin' Donuts
1106 State St, Lemont, IL -
Welcome To Cleaners
12371 Derby Rd, Lemont, IL
John Quinn
9:20 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Another example of big banks putting the screws to small business people at a time when they need help. Thank you Harris (Canadian owned bank) for looking out for the little guys...........
William Douglass
10:01 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
If the owner of a property, Harris Bank in this case, wants to make the minimum length of their lease 3 years, then they have every right to do so. Businesses have the choice of either accepting the terms of the deal, counter offering or moving somewhere else. This is what living in a free market is all about. Riley's point is a pretty good commerical property. I see the logic in asking for a minimum of three years. Whether or not that price is too high or not will be determined by the occupancy rate.
William Douglass
10:15 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Let's face it. A month to month informal lease agreement is pretty unattractive to any property owner. This is especially the case when the property is mostly occupied. If the salon can get that deal somewhere else, they should probably take it and hope that there new location gets the same traffic. At the end of the day, if you own a business and are relying on someone else to do something that is not in their economic best interests, be prepared for the day when that person to change the deal.
William Douglass
10:25 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
That said. I love Mama D's and hope things work things out. If not, they can count on me being a customer wherever they move to.
Anne
11:09 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
William, you make some good points. I hope that Harris gave the tenants some decent notice, however. It seems pretty crummy for a small business to have to shut down because of a short-notice (so it seems) lease dispute. I hope Harris gets some long-term tenants (good for Lemont!), and that Mama D's secures a great location nearby (also good for Lemont!). Let's hope this turns into a win-win.
Amanda Luevano
11:56 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
I just wanted to let everyone know that I was finally able to speak to someone with Harris. There's more to the story, and I'll have an update soon.
ATracy Henry
12:08 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
I'm glad I read your comment Amanda before I posted. I have a close contact at the bank that explained the problem to me. So to blast HARRIS BANK in ANY way is totally UNFAIR ( Mr. Quinn ). I know what happened, so I'll let you ( Amanda ), follow up with this story. I've been a patron of Mama D's from their opening and hope things go well for the family.
bob ognar
12:24 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Harris - no longer the friendly lion bank - cutting jobs in Canada and USA, outsource to India (CEO has a $ interest in India ?)
Nancy A. Kuhn
10:53 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Before blaming the bank for their supposed injustice, one question should be asked.... If the bank foreclosed on the property, what did the former landlord do with the lease payments collected from the tenants? Apparently he didn't make the mortgage payments on the property. The finger should be pointed at the former landlord for not honoring the contracts entered into with both the Bank and the tenants renting space.
Kevin
12:49 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Ms. Kuhn-
You make a very short-sided argument. Did you consider that perhaps the tenant(as well as the other tenants mentioned in being evicted) in question didn't pay the applicable rent to the previous "landlord" and then tried the same routine with the bank? When half of a properties tenant's aren't paying rent(six figures worth of delilnquencies), how could said landlord make the mortgage? They can't. Therefore, the bank takes it back. When the bank takes it back, they evict tenant's who don't pay, as the bank has much deeper pockets then an individual landlord to deal with such cases. Whether it's deemed right or wrong is insignificant, it's the way it goes. Please try and be better informed before making malicious accusations of crime, thievery and ill-advised finger pointing.
John Quinn
9:24 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
One would think the bank would make zero or lose money while these businesses are closed and the spaces empty. If they have people waiting in line to sign leases I could understand their point but from looking at all the vacant empty retail space in Lemont that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm just saying a running business that's paying rent is better than an empty building. Sit down and negotiate a fair lease that these people can live with. That's good for them, the bank, and the community.
Lee Ristow
10:38 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Do you know where the new location is?
Tim Wall
8:56 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Lee - The owner has not released the new location yet that I am aware of. I assume it takes a couple week to get a new lease worked out. He did say that he will let me and Amanda know as soon as they have the new location finalized so we can let everyone know.
Marie Markowski
8:16 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Mr. Wall, received the following e-mail from you but it's not showing up here:
"Mama D's has a new location & will be open soon! The new restaurant will be located at 12420 Archer Ave, Unit G - Lemont. That's just a little southwest on Archer of their current location- near the Crystal Grand Banquets building. Ray told me the new location will be bigger & better with an expanded menu!"
To Ray: as long as you don't change the recipe on the Italian beef, french fries and your amazing Italian Sausage, it's all good in my book! Can't wait for the reopening!!
Tim Wall
8:39 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Marie - Amanda is going to update the story with the info on the new location
Dragan
10:29 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
No one knows what really is going on except the bank that financed the corner mall of stores, the businesses in questions with no leases and the owner of the corner.mall with all these businesses. I don't think it is just to make blatant accusations as the one above by Mr Johnston. Unless, mr. Johnston you are the owner of that property with all the stores, what you wrote is uncalled for. As for Blago, he went against "The Machine" and paid for it. You don't mess with or against the family. End of story.
Dragan
10:31 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Personally, I can't wait for Mamma D to open!!!!!!! Food is fantastic!!!!!
Good luck to Mamma D's!!!!!
Spencer D. Smith
9:50 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
@Darryl
Are you privy to information that others are not? If not, those are some fairly incendiary speculations. I'm not refuting you, I'm just curious.
Tim Wall
12:49 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I spoke with Ray (Mama D's owner) & he wanted me to let everyone know that they will be open in mid April at their new location on Archer.
Also - they are once again offering catering & can be contacted at 630-243-1212
Tim Wall
3:29 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The owner of Mama D's wanted me to pass along this update:
Please let everyone know that we will accept all outstanding coupons, Patch Deals and gift certificates when we re-open at 12420 S.Archer Ave.
Also, we are accepting catering orders for all occasions,communions,graduations, showers, confirmations.
Thank You All For Being Patient
MaMa D's 630.243.1212