Beat Kitchen owner sues city of Chicago over Riverwalk restaurant, cites racial bias
Bob Chiarito | Chicago Sun-Times (December 16, 2025)
Bob Chiarito’s coverage for the Chicago Sun-Times focuses on Robert Gomez’s federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Chicago, highlighting allegations of racial bias and serious irregularities in the Riverwalk concession process. The article underscores Gomez’s claim that his timely and high-value proposal was rejected in favor of a late and significantly lower offer. Gomez told the Sun-Times his proposal committed $1.4 million in rent and revenue sharing to the City over five years, compared to the selected vendor’s $52,000 offer over three years. The story also outlines the lawsuit’s demand for a fair re-solicitation and calls for greater oversight of Riverwalk contracting.
Beat Kitchen owner sues city of Chicago over Riverwalk restaurant, cites racial bias
Owner Robert Gomez, who also operates other restaurants such as Bar Sol at Navy Pier, said the city unfairly rejected his application to continue operating at the Riverwalk.
Chicago Sun-Times//December 16, 2025
