Mexican restaurant chain shutters all 8 Chicago locations
Summary
The Mexican restaurant chain Guzman Y Gomez has permanently closed all eight of its U.S. locations, which were all situated in the Chicago metro area. The closures, effective May 22, were announced on the company's website and social media, with co-founder Steven Marks citing a need for significantly more time and capital than anticipated to achieve the expected sales momentum. The company, originally founded in Australia in 2006, had expanded to the U.S. in 2020 with Chicago as its entry point. In response to the abrupt shutdown, former employees have launched a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging that they were not given the 60-day notice required by federal and Illinois law. The lawsuit, filed with Chicago firm Haseeb Legal, seeks pay and benefits for up to 60 days for every affected employee, estimated to be over 500. The company spokesperson stated that they are confident they have met all legal obligations.
(Source:USA TODAY)