Beat Kitchen owner Robert Gomez takes Chicago to federal court on racial discrimination after riverwalk permit denied
The owner of Beat Kitchen is taking Chicago to federal court.
Robert Gomez claims he was denied a permit to operate his restaurant on the Chicago riverwalk, because of his race.
Gomez told the ABC7 I-Team the city's Riverwalk Selection Committee discriminated against him, in favor of an African American-owned business.
Originally, the lawsuit was filed under Cook County. Gomez explained why the filing was moved to a federal level.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Beat Kitchen owner sues, saying restaurant unfairly kicked out of Chicago Riverwalk spot
"The federal government funded the development of the riverwalk," Gomez said. "All of it is there because of the dollars that we receive from the federal government, and that made the whole process be hold into federal law, rules and regulations. It spells out very clearly how a vendor is to be selected, and the process that has to take place."
Beat Kitchen operated on the Riverwalk for three seasons.
ABC7 reached out to the city for a response, but officials said they do not comment on pending litigation.
