× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. has filed a lawsuit against the owner of Grisanti's, alleging the restaurant owes more than $26,000 in unpaid rent.

The suit, filed this week in Lancaster County District Court, also seeks more than $472,000 in future rent on the lease that does not expire until June 2018 and the removal of Grisanti's from its longtime home at 6940 O St., which Ameritas owns.

The suit said Ameritas gave Deva Inc., the company that owns Grisanti's in Lincoln, written notice on Nov. 10 demanding payment of overdue rent within three days, but the restaurant "neglected and refused" to pay.

Grisanti's, which first opened in the spot in 1987, has been closed for more than a month.

Deva Inc. owner Demetris Kotsalis told the Journal Star in early November that he couldn't discuss why the restaurant closed but that he would have it reopened "very soon."

Earlier this week, Kotsalis said in an email that he was still working on getting the Lincoln Grisanti's and one in Omaha, which is also closed, reopened. He said things should be finalized by next week "one way or another."

On Thursday, after being informed of the lawsuit, Kotsalis said he's "working on a number of issues and solutions," but can't comment on the details.

In addition to the overdue rent mentioned in the lawsuit, Deva Inc. owes the state more than $177,000 in sales taxes, penalties and interest going back to 2012.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1

The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.