One of Chicago's most storied steakhouses is taking its airport partner to court, claiming a big-name brand was used as bait, then tossed aside once the contract was in hand.
Owners of Gene & Georgetti have filed a lawsuit against SSP America, the company that runs food and beverage concessions at airports, accusing it of trading on the steakhouse's name to help win a Midway Airport deal and then undercutting the restaurant's outpost there. The complaint, made public on May 19, 2026, says SSP promised a long-term partnership but then veered from agreed-on menus, failed to pay licensing fees, and moved to terminate the arrangement. The suit casts the fight as a breach of contract and a hit to the reputation of a woman-owned Chicago brand.
According to CBS Chicago, the parties teamed up in 2019, leading to the opening of Gene's Bistro at Midway in 2020 under a 20-year concession agreement. The complaint says SSP agreed to pay a $50,000 upfront licensing fee plus 5 percent of net revenues, terms that Gene & Georgetti say they agreed to waive for more than a year after SSP reported it could not pay because of pandemic-related losses. The filing further alleges SSP changed the core menu they had negotiated, served lower-quality dishes, and then sent a letter on October 21, 2025, announcing it was unilaterally terminating the partnership and giving Gene's Bistro 90 days to shut down.
Owner Says The Brand Was 'Jettisoned'
In a statement on the restaurant's site, Gene & Georgetti said it had cooperated with SSP and accused the concessionaire of using the steakhouse's brand equity to help win the Midway bid. Reporting at the time by the Chicago Sun-Times quoted owner Michelle Durpetti saying the partnership was ended with little explanation and that she suspected the space could be repurposed for slot machines. Durpetti has framed the dispute as an example of the risks that local, woman-owned restaurants face when they sign on with global concession operators.
Where Slot-Machine Talks Fit In
The complaint alleges SSP was in talks with Bally's Chicago about using space at Midway for slot machines, and points to Bally's own federal filings that reference discussions over installing gaming positions at the airport. A filing with the SEC mentions talks with Midway about gaming positions, and trade outlets reported in October that Bally's had identified a potential location at the airport. Taken together, those details suggest that a single airport concession slot may have become a high-stakes bargaining chip in Midway's food-and-beverage lineup.
SSP Says The Suit Is Without Merit
As CBS Chicago notes, Crain's reported that SSP has called the lawsuit "without merit" and said it remains committed to partnering with local brands while making what it considers the right business decisions for the airport. According to the complaint, the company has not offered a detailed public explanation for the October 21 letter it sent to Gene & Georgetti. For now, Gene's Bistro, the Midway outpost at the center of the dispute, remains open while the legal fight moves forward.
Legal Implications
The suit focuses on licensing and contract claims tied to the use of trademarks, menus, and trade secrets, along with alleged breaches surrounding how the brand was used and how fees were handled. If a court finds SSP violated the agreement, those allegations could translate into monetary damages. Gene & Georgetti has framed the case as a broader warning to independent Chicago brands to scrutinize how their names and reputations are deployed in airport concession bids.
Court filings should further clarify the specific claims, requested remedies, and legal theories at play as the case proceeds. We will continue to follow new documents and official statements and update coverage as verified records become available.
