Mk The Restaurant to Close After 18 Years in River North

UPDATE: A rep now says the restaurant will close on Tuesday, June 13.

Michael Kornick is blaming a landlord dispute for the end of mk’s The Restaurant’s 18-year run. Kornick’s upscale River North flagship will close following Sunday’s dinner service. Kornick told the Tribune that the restaurant’s building has a new owner and there was a disagreement over how much the landlord should pay for infrastructure upgrades.

Mk’s fine dining kickstarted Kornick’s DMK Restaurant Group. He’s since gone more fast-casual by opening DMK Burger Bars in Lakeview, Navy Pier and suburban Lombard with partner David Morton.

Cook County records show a transaction from January as Ajax Holdings. A message to Kornick’s reps also wasn’t immediately returned.

The Tribune also mentioned that mk executive chef Erick Williams will help Kornick reopen County Barbecue in August. The Little Italy restaurant closed in August 2016 after a fire.

Check back later for any updates if Kornick or Ajax share additional information about the sad end to Kornick’s first restaurant.

UPDATE: A rep from Aspen, Colo.-based Ajax said the company has nothing to do with the deal.