Legal Battle Over Unpaid Wages for Signature Room Workers

The Signature Room, an iconic restaurant located on the 95th floor of the former John Hancock Center in Chicago, abruptly closed in September 2023, resulting in the loss of over 100 jobs. The restaurant's parent company, Infusion Management Group, subsequently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Following the closure, a federal judge ruled in March 2024 that the restaurant owed approximately $1.52 million in back pay and benefits to its former employees under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which mandates that businesses provide 60 days' notice before mass layoffs or closures.

Chicago union sues Signature Room owners for $1.5M

In January 2026, Unite Here Local 1, the union representing the former staff of the Signature Room, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court seeking to hold the restaurant's owners, Richard Roman and Nick Pyknis, personally liable for the unpaid wages and benefits. The lawsuit alleges that Roman and Pyknis engaged in fraudulent asset transfers to evade their financial responsibilities to the workers. Specifically, it claims that Roman transferred assets from Infusion Management to a newly formed LLC, RSR Capital Group, to pay off personal debts to the restaurant's landlord shortly before the closure.

Signature Room owner shuffled assets to avoid paying laid-off workers, lawsuit allegesChicago union sues Signature Room owners for $1.5MFormer owners of The Signature Room in former John Hancock building being sued for backpay

The lawsuit details that RSR Capital Group had $500,000 in cash just days before the Signature Room's closure, which was allegedly paid directly to Roman and Pyknis rather than being used to satisfy the debts owed to the employees. The union's legal action seeks to "pierce the corporate veil" of Infusion Management, arguing that the owners should be held accountable for the debts incurred by the business.

Signature Room owner shuffled assets to avoid paying laid-off workers, lawsuit alleges

Karen Kent, President of Unite Here Local 1, stated, “Despite the Signature Room owners’ brazen attempts to cheat their employees and evade the law, our union has continued to pursue enforcement of the federal judgment against these deadbeats so that former Signature Room workers get the justice they deserve.” Attempts to reach the owners for comment have been unsuccessful.

Signature Room owner shuffled assets to avoid paying laid-off workers, lawsuit alleges

The union's lawsuit has been met with criticism regarding the management practices of Roman and Pyknis. Critics argue that the actions taken by the owners to transfer assets and avoid paying employees reflect a broader issue of corporate accountability in labor relations. The National Labor Relations Board has also filed a complaint against Infusion Management for allegedly failing to bargain with the union during the shutdown.

Chicago union sues Signature Room owners for $1.5M

The legal proceedings will continue as Unite Here Local 1 aims to enforce the federal judgment and ensure that the former employees receive the compensation they are owed. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly regarding the responsibilities of business owners in the event of sudden closures.

Chicago union sues Signature Room owners for $1.5M