A sign outside the Cobbs Mill Inn in Weston is once again raising concerns over who actually owns the property and what is going to be done with it.

The sign posted by Anthony Villano last week announces a steakhouse coming to Cobbs Mill Inn. It has nothing to do with Gabriele's Steakhouse in Westport.

"I've been in business since 1973. Gabriele's restaurant on the Boston Post Road in Orange. We started in West Haven," said Villano, who owns several restaurants.

Villano is the business partner of Laura Friedman. Her husband Andrew Friedman owned Cobbs Mill Inn for many years. He registered the property as an LLC so when he died it was in the hands of an estate.

"Mrs. Friedman over here, she's a victim of the attorneys right now," said Villano.

Laura Friedman has argued she has a right to the property. But a judge ruled in 2021 that the executor of the estate had sole right to the property, not Laura Friedman.

Friedman is now leasing the property to Villano.

"She's the owner. We can do whatever we want. The courts cannot intervene as third parties," said Villano.

The town of Weston told News 12 Connecticut Thursday that the rightful owners of the Cobbs Mill Inn are Sandra and Kleber Siguenza. Town records show they purchased the property last January for just over $1 million.

"That's only an opinion right now. OK, we'll wait until the courts decide who owns the property right now," said Villano.

Villano, who currently lives at the property with Friedman, showed News 12 all the court documents he has filed. He says he has other plans for the property besides an Italian steakhouse.

"Right now, we're thinking about having an international club first of all, and second we're going to have a private culinary school," said Villano.

The Siguenzas and one of their attorneys declined to comment today. Villano says he plans to start construction here sometime by the end of the year.

A pending lawsuit requiring Friedman and Villano to vacate the premises is expected to go to trial this June.