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Mk The Restaurant to Close After 18 Years in River North

Owner Michael Kornick blames a landlord dispute

MK The Restaurant
Marc Much
Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

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.

mk The Restaurant

868 N Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610 312 482 9179 Visit Website