The ongoing dispute over Northwest Portland's historic Besaw's restaurant took a strange turn Tuesday.

C.E. John, the Vancouver-based development company that owns the Besaw's building, has alleged that restaurant owner Cana Flug removed the "Est. 1903" tilework on the floor in front of the bar, several antique bar stools, several signs -- including the neon "Besaw's" sign on the outside of the building -- and the awnings on the outside of the building without their consent.

C.E. John asked for a temporary restraining order in the United States District Court of Oregon on June 2 requesting the items be returned. In a press release, C.E. John wrote that they had informed Flug that they owned those items and other permanent fixtures of the space.

But, in a phone interview, Flug says the development company's accusations are inaccurate.

"Everything we removed was replaced or repaired up to perfect condition," Flug said. "Somebody told (C.E. John) that tilework was original. I put it in myself seven years ago and it was chipped. I paid for those awnings myself eight years ago with my logo."

Additionally, Flug says her lease required her to remove all "signage."

"As far as I know, (the neon sign) was on the list we were told to remove," Flug said. "I had it refurbished 10 years ago, when it didn't work anymore, and it's just getting refurbished again."

Last month, after 112 years as a Portland institution, negotiations between Flug and C.E. John failed, then went public, leading to several ongoing legal disputes. The restaurant closed May 29.

Flug's plan was to say goodbye to Besaw's on Northwest 23rd Avenue and begin working on Besaw's 2.0 elsewhere in the neighborhood. But quickly after the news broke, it became apparent the second chapter of the restaurant was not going to go smoothly.

C.E. John believed the name "Besaw's" belonged not just with the restaurant, but with the property. In January, the development company filed a federal trademark application for the Besaw's name and logo. Flug later filed for trademark in March.

The dispute went to the courts in early May with Flug filing a lawsuit over the trademark conflict. One week later, C.E. John filed a countersuit.

Recently, a new player entered the ring: Kurt Huffman, whose ChefStable restaurant group backs Ox, St. Jack, Lardo and more. According to Huffman, C.E. John approached him about negotiating a deal with Flug on the Vancouver-based developer's behalf.

Flug denied the offer and is still working on opening a new location of Besaw's in Northwest Portland.

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-- Samantha Bakall

sbakall@oregonian.com

Follow @sambakall