The Grand Lux Café on Chicago's Magnificent Mile has announced its closure on December 24 as reported by CBS Chicago. The café, a 21-year stalwart, follows the Signature Room at the former John Hancock Center, which closed just six weeks prior.
Opened in 2002, the Grand Lux Café at 600 N. Michigan Ave. is the product of the creators of the Cheesecake Factory. It's prominence may be seen not just in Chicago but also in Las Vegas, with its first establishment in the Venetian Resort, and further afield in Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, and Texas. While a statement by the restaurant chain did announce the Chicago closure, they did not provide reasons for the decision. Nevertheless, assistance is being offered to staff in their transition to other opportunities according to Chicago Business.
Noteworthy too is the closure of the Signature Room, with its departure attributed to "severe economic hardship" as per CBS Chicago report. Following the restaurant's closure, the hospitality union UNITE HERE Local 1 filed a complaint of violation against the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. This legal action was taken against Infusion Management Group Inc., which closed the establishment without providing prior notice to its 132 union-represented employees.
For Grand Lux Café staff moving on, the nearby Cheesecake Factory, part of the same restaurant group, appears set to assist. This location could serve as one potential opportunity for staff affected by the Grand Lux Café's impending closure as they start looking for new roles.
