The Signature Room, located on the 95th and 96th floors of the former John Hancock Center, abruptly shuttered, last week of September. This sudden closure caught both patrons and employees off guard. As reported by Eater Chicago, the Chicago Federation of Labor’s Unite Here Local No. 1, a union for hospitality workers, subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against Rick Roman and Nick Pyknis, the restaurant’s owners. The lawsuit alleged the owners violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act by not providing sufficient notice of the closure.
A requirement of the WARN Act is that employers provide at least 60 days’ notice in the face of a mass firing or elimination of jobs. The union claims that the 132 employees it represents were only informed of the restaurant's closing on the day it occurred, as stated in a report by Eater Chicago. The union is seeking compensation for lost wages, pension payments, and healthcare benefits that should have been paid out during the required 60-day notice period, in addition to healthcare coverage and salary.
At this time, the reasons behind the abrupt closure of the Signature Room are unclear. Some reports suggest that it was due to unsuccessful lease negotiations, while others imply it was the result of decreased business during the pandemic. NBC Chicago reported that a memo to staff on the day of the closure cited unsuccessful lease renegotiations as the primary factor, underscoring the economic hardships faced by many restaurants in the wake of pandemic-related restrictions.
Beyond the staff impacted by the closure, patrons who had event deposits held by the Signature Room are still seeking refunds. Andrea Purcell, whose account was shared by NBC Chicago, had put down a $1,700 deposit for her mother’s 70th birthday celebration at the restaurant and has yet to get in touch with anyone from the Signature Room regarding a refund. Similar situations have been reported by other guests who planned events at the establishment.
Infusion Management, the company owned by the restaurant's proprietors, had received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $2 million in 2020 and 2021 that being forgiven. For customers seeking refunds, suggested courses of action include sending formal letters to the company, seeking legal counsel, or initiating legal proceedings.
