Overview
- Robert Gomez refiled his case in federal court after an initial Cook County suit, citing federal funding of the Riverwalk as the basis for federal jurisdiction.
- The complaint alleges city officials privately invited Haire’s Gulf Shrimp to submit a proposal after the public deadline and changed scoring to prefer a Black-owned business.
- Beat Kitchen says it was the only on-time applicant and offered the city $1.4 million over five years, yet committee scores favored the rival on payment terms.
- The suit asks the court to void the lease for 91–95 E. Riverwalk now occupied by Haire’s and seeks financial damages for lost revenue and investments.
- Chicago’s law department says the city has not been served and will not comment, and Haire’s owner declined to comment.