BELLEVILLE 鈥� On the same September day the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 in Belleville said on Facebook because it was the Illinois Department of Revenue posted a warning sign on its door saying that the business鈥� certificate of registration was revoked for non-compliance with tax laws.
A Department of Revenue spokesman said the bright-green sign posted on Sept. 27 means a business can鈥檛 be in operation. Due to taxpayer confidentiality laws, state officials could not disclose details of why the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉鈥� certificate of registration was revoked. The restaurant reopened less than a week later.
Royal Banks of Missouri alleges in a petition filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Dec. 2, seeking a $21.7 million judgment against the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 developers, that they failed multiple times to pay restaurant sales tax when it was due, which resulted in the closure.
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Royal Banks also alleges that the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 owed $10,462 to the Department of Revenue on Nov. 18 and that the bank had to advance the German restaurant and brewery loan proceeds so it could make its payment to the state.
Matt Simmons, the new general manager of the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉, could not be reached for comment. Last Tuesday, Dec. 10, he declined to comment on the Royal Banks case because he is an attorney for co-defendants.
Simmons said, after the restaurant closed, that it was to give new management time to revamp its menu and entertainment, and to correct issues with service.
The 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 reopened on Oct. 2 and held a grand-reopening celebration on Oct. 11. It has remained open since.
Sam Salustro, a spokesman for the Department of Revenue, said the department works with businesses to satisfy their liabilities, and once an agreement is reached, the business is allowed to operate again. Salustro declined to say when the green warning sign was removed from the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 door.
A certificate of registration with the state Department of Revenue allows a company to do business in the state as a retailer. The department uses the warning sign to let the public know that a company has had its certificate of registration revoked.
Petition filed
Royal Banks of Missouri filed a 60-page petition against the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 and the companies created to develop and run the restaurant in an effort to get a $21.7 million judgment against them.
The late Chuck Keller of Effingham and his family developed the restaurant, saying it cost $12 million to build. Keller died in January on his 80th birthday.
Two of his sons, Christopher Keller of Effingham and Chane Keller of Belleville, and Chuck Keller鈥檚 wife, Doris Keller of Effingham, are listed as three of the 12 co-defendants in the petition filed by Royal Banks of Missouri.
The following allegations are included in the Royal Banks of Missouri petition:
- The developers failed to begin construction of a hotel complex next to the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 by April 1.
- The developers failed to pay franchise fees of about $30,739 to 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 of America LLC in the third quarter this year.
- The developers failed to pay $25,000 in ground rent for July 1 to Nov. 1 on the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 site, which they lease from the religious order that owns the National Shrine of Our Lady of Snows, located across from the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 on Illinois 15.
Royal Banks states that although it was not required to do so, it advised the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 developers 鈥渙f their numerous defaults鈥� on 鈥渕ultiple occasions.鈥�
Receiver appointed
As previously reported in the News-Democrat, a St. Louis County judge has granted Royal Banks of Missouri鈥檚 request to appoint a receiver who has 鈥� for the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉.
Royal Banks of Missouri filed for the motion as the lender to the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉, which is listed in court records as the borrower.
William Guy Crouch was named the receiver, according to an order filed in St. Louis County on Dec. 6. Crouch could not be reached for comment.
Llynn K. White, an attorney for Royal Banks of Missouri, also could not be reached for comment.
Restaurant development
The 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 opened in March 2018, than the Keller family originally said it would open.
The city of Belleville spent $2.42 million to extend sewer lines to the development site. It also granted tax incentives worth up to $32.36 million to the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 developers, but those incentives were based on future revenues and not paid up front.
Mayor Mark Eckert said Thursday the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉 has not yet filed to get any of the tax incentives.
The Keller family has said it would build hotels and other restaurants next to the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉, but those projects have not started.
A St. Louis company has proposed to build a Zoom convenience store on a lot next to the 贬辞蹿产谤盲耻丑补耻蝉, and the city council will vote on the site plans.
Mike Koziatek is a reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, a news partner of 漏 2024 外网天堂.
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