Maiolini and his partner, Dan Waters, opened Café Artiste in 1999 as a small espresso bar. It had three tables and “no kitchen — just a glorified closet,” says Tara Maiolini, Cosimo’s wife.

The lights are on, but nobody’s home, and people are wondering — what in the world happened to Café Artiste? The family-run restaurant, located at 1601 W. Main St. and known as much for its ...