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Beat Kitchen Sues City, Alleging Discrimination In Riverwalk Concession Award

Melody Mercado | Block Club Chicago (December 17, 2025)

Melody Mercado’s reporting for Block Club Chicago follows Robert Gomez’s federal lawsuit challenging the City of Chicago’s handling of the Riverwalk concession process. The coverage details allegations that city officials privately solicited a late proposal, altered scoring, and considered race during the evaluation, raising broader questions about transparency, procurement rules, and public oversight in the awarding of city contracts.

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Beat Kitchen Sues City, Alleging Discrimination In Riverwalk Concession Award
The lawsuit alleges city officials weighed race during scoring and privately encouraged a vendor to apply after the deadline.
Block Club Chicago/Melody Mercado/December 17, 2025
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Block Club Chicago on Twitter / X
Beat Kitchen is suing the city, alleging discrimination in Riverwalk concession award. https://t.co/VoduJhVuJw pic.twitter.com/r8fzLZe2bh— Block Club Chicago (@BlockClubCHI) December 17, 2025
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About BKBG Management Company

BKBG Management Company is a Chicago-based, independent management company specializing in restaurant, hospitality, and event operations. Our brands include Subterranean and Beat Kitchen, Bar Sol and Beat Kitchen Cantina on Navy Pier, and Beat Kitchen on the Riverwalk. We also manage large-scale festivals such as Wicker Park Fest and Do Division and provide full-service catering solutions focusing on customized event menus, on-site execution, and seamless event logistics.