Vasken’s reopens after nearly two months

Last edited 10:11 a.m., Dec. 10, 2015

After nearly two months closed following an ownership dispute and alleged theft, Vasken’s International Deli and Food Market has reopened.

Staci Haroutounian, who with her husband Vasken in 1997 opened the original Vasken’s in Branson, said the Springfield restaurant at Battlefield Market Place, 900 E. Battlefield Road, opened to customers Nov. 18.

"Vasken and I will be pretty hands-on up there making sure the food is the quality that it should be,” said Haroutounian, who with partners opened the Queen City deli in early 2014.

The Mediterranean restaurant closed Sept. 30 after Haroutounian alleged its management company and partner MODeli LLC robbed the store of its equipment and other assets, including food items. In a Springfield Police Department report filed Sept. 29, restaurant partner John Weidner informed an officer of the alleged theft.

A witness cited in the report said he viewed a rental truck parked in front of the deli and 10-12 people loading tables and equipment from the restaurant.

Previously, Weidner had been a 25 percent owner of the restaurant, and management company MODeli owned 70 percent, according to the police report. A clause in the contract stated MODeli, owned by Cary Parker and Chad Carleton, allowed Weidner to buy the 70 percent stake - which included the establishment's equipment - if MODeli failed to properly manage the business. Haroutounian and her husband continue to own 5 percent of the Springfield Vasken’s and are now the sole managing members. Weidner now owns the remaining 95 percent, she said.

Parker confirmed this morning MODeli is in possession of the assets, but said questions remain as to who it belongs to.

“There were and are questions regarding the ownership of the equipment,” he said. “It’s a very unfortunate partner dispute. We still hope to peacefully get that resolved.”

In the police report, restaurant manager Haley McKinney told the officer Carleton visited the restaurant a few hours each day, but she took care of the daily activities for which he was in charge.

Declining to disclose whether MODeli is pursuing legal action over the equipment, Parker said the allegations the company failed to maintain its end of the contract is a “he said, she said” situation.

“Obviously, we all believe that we are right in our opinions; otherwise we would never be to this point right now,” he said, noting MODeli no longer is involved with the Springfield restaurant’s operations.

Noting the items have not been returned and she plans to pursue legal action, Haroutounian said she filled the Springfield shop with extra equipment from Branson, as well as items purchased from friends in the restaurant industry.

“They took everything,” Haroutounian said of the alleged theft. “We had to start from scratch.”

Battlefield Market Place owner Magers Management Co. helped in the interim, putting rent on hold until the owners could reopen. Haroutounian said the Springfield restaurant employs 10, most of whom were employees when the restaurant closed in September. She said several of the workers helped out at the Branson restaurant while the Springfield store was closed.