Champps-Minneapolis not paying its bills lawsuit says

Is a downtown sports bar on the ropes? If not paying your distributor is any indication, it could be the case. A Hennepin County lawsuit filed last week indicates Champps-Minneapolis might be going the way of fellow downtown restaurant Bellanotte and Cafe Brenda. The restaurant was sued last week by restaurant supplier U.S. Foodservice, Inc. for nonpayment of over $170,000 in unspecified goods and services.

The Champps chain was founded by local businessman Dean Vlahos, who reportedly lost millions as a result of his dealings with BFF and convicted local Ponzi schemer Tom Petters and was sued earlier this year by a Rochester bank for defaulting on millions in loans.