D&J Café reopened today, but the restaurant’s sudden closure earlier this week had nothing to do with the closure of Luca Pizza, another business owned by Lee Rupnik.
“We had a pipe break on Monday. The plumber came in and replaced the pipe but didn’t turn the water back on and check for more leaks,” said D&J Café manager Pam Ward. “When we came in Tuesday morning, we had no water.”
Ward said she’s been with D&J Café, 915 W. Laurel St., for a little over two years and described operations as “smooth as silk.” She noted that less than an hour after posting on social media that the café had reopened, it was packed with regular customers.
On the other hand, there is no indication that Luca Pizza, 2937 W. Iles Ave., will be reopening.
On Jan. 9, customers took to social media to say that the door was locked during business hours. Manager Amanda Hodson blamed it on the phone lines being down and responded the next day that Luca Pizza was back open. But by Jan. 15, customers were again finding the business closed, this time with a handwritten sign indicating the staff had been given the day off and the restaurant would reopen the following day.
However, Luca Pizza has yet to reopen and Hodson posted on social media again Jan. 20, this time stating she was “unsure of how to respond to any of this considering we tried our best.” She claimed that her and her husband’s paychecks had bounced and the staff had not been paid for the past two weeks. Hodson did not respond to SBJ's request for additional comment.
Rupnik has owned Luca’s Pizza since 2009 and purchased D&J Café in 2021. According to Ward, while he still lives in Springfield, Rupnik is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of either business.
“I haven’t seen him in over nine months; he has not stepped foot inside the building,” Ward said. “I have been taking care of everything. We do all our sales in cash, and I record our sales every day. When a distributor pulls up, I have the money to pay him. I’ve made payroll for the employees. I take care of the utilities.”
Rupnik was arrested in Jefferson County, Kentucky, on May 5, 2024, on charges of possessing cocaine. His case is set for a plea hearing on Jan. 29.
“In my opinion, it was really bad management at Luca (Pizza). We’re under the same circumstances as far as the owner not being involved,” Ward said. “The manager there had access to all the sales. Wherever the money went, I don’t know. It didn’t go into the bank.”
A second handwritten sign on the door at Luca Pizza reads: “We may have to ask for cash only,” citing problems with the card reader.
Ward said that it is "business as usual" at D&J Café now that the plumbing problems have been resolved.
“The kitchen manager and I are doing everything we can to keep it open,” she said. “We are totally devoted to this restaurant, even if the owner isn’t.”
Rupnik did not respond to a request for comment. His father, Joe Rupnik, owns The Dublin Pub. That business posted on social media Jan. 22 clarifying the different ownership with a statement that read in part: "...there is no connection between The Dublin Pub and the other two establishments."
