Greensburg restaurant owner abandons business, leaves mess behind

When One Eleven restaurant on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg abruptly closed in the spring, it left a mess, both literal and legal.

“They just kind of left in the middle of the night,” Greensburg Mayor Robert Bell said. “We didn't know they left, and then we got a call from one of the other merchants there that there was garbage at the back of the building and it was starting to stink.”

City employees spent about four hours in the alley behind the restaurant, filling a truck with bags of decayed meat and spoiled food after the May closure.

“It was terrible. We got all kinds of complaints from the neighbors,” city planning director Barbara Ciampini said. “It was filthy; they just threw it in the alley behind the building.”

The owner, Richard Kurtz, had vanished, according to city officials. Kurtz could not be reached for comment.

Numerous lenders have taken legal action against Kurtz, who owes more than $600,000 to various institutions, according to court documents.

Kurtz owns One Eleven and Southfork Texas Tavern, formerly La Paz, at the corner of Green and South Main streets in Southwest Greensburg, which also is closed.

He moved to New York City this year, according to his Facebook page and Greensburg officials.

Greensburg lawyer Greg Nichols said he briefly represented Kurtz this year, but Kurtz now represents himself.

In December, US Foods Inc. sued One Eleven for almost $40,000 in unpaid bills.

Wise Funding group sued in January, alleging Kurtz's company, Patria Downtown, owed more than $12,000.

The Progress Fund, a Greensburg organization that provides business loans, started foreclosure proceedings on One Eleven in June. The restaurant owes the Progress Fund more than $189,000, according to court records.

The same month, Enterprise Bank started the foreclosure process on the Green Street restaurant, alleging more than $374,000 owed.

The borough of Southwest Greensburg sued Kurtz over unpaid garbage bills.

Progress Fund President David Kahley said he expected his organization soon will take possession of 111 S. Pennsylvania Ave. and the restaurant's liquor license.

“Our intention will be to sell it and the liquor license, once we get control,” he said.

Southwest Greensburg borough manager Corry Sheffler said the borough has been unable to reach Kurtz.

“We would like, of course, for the former restaurant location on South Main Street to be occupied by a viable business,” he said.

One Eleven opened in 2011 as an upscale downtown eatery. It rebranded as Fat Jack's Gastropub last year, then briefly reverted to its original name before closing.

Neighboring business owners say One Eleven's absence is missed. It was a popular spot that brought welcome bustle to the neighborhood.

“There used to be cars lined up all the time coming there,” said Mike Toma, owner of Mike's Framing and Art next door.

The white-tablecloth atmosphere and popular menu offerings, such as crab cakes, made it a popular Greensburg dining spot that earned many positive reviews online.

“It was such a good addition to the street, to have such a good, high-quality restaurant,” said Mary Wilmes, who owns Penelope's Gifts and More up the block from One Eleven. “It meant of a lot business-wise to the block, and to the town.”

Bell said he'd like to see a new business there soon.

“I think it's a workable restaurant, so I'd like to see something move in there,” he said.

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646, jtierney@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Soolseem.