Crusader staff report
The honorary street sign of Rosebud owner Alex Dana in Little Italy is no more.
The sign was taken down after the Chicago Crusader published a story about Dana’s recent $1.9 lawsuit settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which alleged that Dana and his management discriminated against hundreds of Blacks who applied at all of its 13 locations six years ago. EEOC’s attorneys said less than one percent of Rosebud’s 800 to 900 employees were Black.
In addition, the EEOC said Dana and Rosebud management made racial slurs against people of color.
Despite Dana’s alleged discriminatory business practices, an honorary street sign bearing his name remained in front of his original restaurant at 1500 West Taylor Street. The sign was in a predominately Black ward represented by Alderman Jason C. Ervin. It was erected in 2011 after 48 aldermen approved it. During that time, the EEOC was investigating racial discrimination claims against Dana. After settling with the federal agency, Dana did not apologize or admit guilt or wrongdoing while the sign remained up.
A Crusader reporter observed that the sign was gone during a visit to the area July 1. Alderman Anthony Beale, chairman of the City Council’s Transportation Committee, said the sign was removed because it was expired. City records show the sign expired three years ago after Aug. 1, 2014, but questions remain as to why the expired signed stayed up for so long.
Dana’s honorary street sign is still shown on his Rosebud Restaurants website, rosebudrestaurants.com.
