The former Bella Fortuna and Key to the County at 104 Main Street in Lake Leelanau will soon have two new tenants; including one with a similar name that has resulted in a lawsuit.
First, the Leelanau Steakhouse, Seafood & Pasta is expected to specialize in innovative cuisine, expected to open in the beginning of May, according to a press release.
Secondly, Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza will reopen under new management, without former owner Eric Nittolo, according to current owner Roger Colburn.
“If you look at the building layout, it could be three restaurants. We will be using the garden for more,” Colburn said.
Both Lake Leelanau restaurants are in the final stages of remodeling with a busy April ahead.
Eric Nittolo, who ran Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza for roughly five years, had this to say about the restaurant plans.
“Eric Nittolo nor any of the Nittolo family does not have any association with whatever (Colburn) is calling this,” Nittolo said. “How could somebody else operate a business under somebody else’s name?”
Colburn and Nittolo are now in a trademark battle as Eric filed a lawsuit in mid-December in Michigan Western District Court.
Colburn and Nittolo were in business together starting around 2020 and opened Nittolo’s Seafood & Pizza that quickly became a foodie favorite on the Leelanau Peninsula known for its authentic Italian food.
Trouble on the peninsula seemingly began over a year ago.
Colburn states that he funded the start of the business and owns the trademark identifiers.
“(Nittolo) was an employee. The goal was to sell him the restaurant, but at the last minute he didn’t want to do it,” Colburn said. “This is the name we gave it ... This is going to be resolved soon.”
This lawsuit does not involve Eric’s new restaurant “Nittolo’s Little Italy” that opened in Traverse City last year and is located on Garland Street.
According to Colburn, he was close to selling the business and its assets to Nittolo last year but the potential deal fell through.
The original idea was to sell the business to Nittolo, according to Colburn.
When asked if Colburn would still sell the business to Nittolo he did say “yes.”
Nittolo closed the Lake Leelanau restaurant abruptly in February.
Colburn says the Nittolo’s restaurant under new management will focus primarily on carry-out and be local-focused with a cheaper price point than before.
Colburn wants the Leelanau Steakhouse to become a staple in the area where finding a classic steakhouse can be hard.
“I believe we lack a good steakhouse and a really good restaurant with other options,” Colburn said.
Colburn wants the Lake Leelanau restaurants to focus on customer service, while producing a quality product, at a reasonable price point.
Colburn admits that he has been a passive owner in the past and is jumping with both feet into this venture.
Colburn hopes to have a bar scene alongside Dick’s, Northern Latitudes, Suttons Bay establishments, V.I. Grille and Streetside.
“We want to be more geared towards locals,” Colburn said. “Over the last year and a half, I’ve been going there all the time as a customer and the focus has gone away.”
Local lore often mentions Al Capone and the specific building, which was known as the Dew Drop Inn in Lake Leelanau (later Dan’s Powerhouse Tavern and Bella Fortuna North).
“The restaurant has a fabled story of a bullet hole from Al Capone that is still in that restaurant,” Coburn said.
Colburn hopes to have both restaurants open by the beginning of May. He also directs job finders to reach out to nittolosrestaurant@ gmail.com.
