The Berghoff reopens - Chicago

[pounce]

The Berghoff, the 107-year-old Chicago restaurant that closed in February when owners Herman and Jan Berghoff retired, was reopened by their daughter Carlyn.

Little about the new Berghoff Cafe, which opened quietly Tuesday, was different from the old. It's a mystery to me why they ever closed, said longtime Berghoff customer Arthur Raphael, 66.

The main difference, one not overlooked by customers, seemed to be the absence of its longtime unionized workers, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The old Berghoff was one of the few Chicago restaurants to still employ union cooks and servers, leading some to wonder whether the closing had more to do with rising employee costs.

We had to do it the way we did it, Carlyn Berghoff said. She moved her catering firm into the leased space that will now accommodate private events.

But the Culinary Institute of America graduate and a 20-year catering veteran is keeping three of her parents' trademark dishes -- wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten and schlachtplatte.

We want to get the crowds back, she said.

[ronnie_suburban]

Here's a link to the entire story, which appeared in the April 19 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Menu same, staff different as Berghoff Cafe reopens by Janet Rausa Fuller.

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[ronnie_suburban]

A bunch of local, in-know-types had predicted this very outcome.

Frankly, I find it incredibly sad and even though the Berghoff had long ago dropped off my radar, this officializes it. Union issues aside (because we are not going to discuss politics here), what a lousy way to treat long-standing employees. And to essentially admit to it in public is also baffling. Who knows? Perhaps the dismissed employees were treated well behind the scenes before they were rehired at their likely lower salaries. That seems very doubtful, however.

The Berghoff, IMO, has lost its right be considered a Chicago institution. Now, it's just another (privately-owned) business, willing to manipulate and deceive just about anyone without any apparent remorse whatsoever. Whatever it had been in its glory days -- long before its orchestrated, faux "closing" -- the Berghoff had deteriorated into an over-crowded tourist trap, turning out mediocre food which was revered by the undiscerning. My guess is that this "reincarnation" by the Berghoff won't have much impact on those undiscerning fans. Anyone who walks into the place from this point forward is basically saying that they're ok with what the ownership did.

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[budrichard]

"Tapas station and raw bar" ? No matter what is now done, the Burghoff is dead. I have seen a number of these 'changes' where the new owner thought that he/she could trade on the original name/owners mystique. In reality the new owner had not a clue as to what made the original a success. It was not what was on the menu but the people that made the difference. R.I.P. -Dick

[gmi3804]

Why is Coke II coming to mind?

[Alex]

A bunch of local, in-know-types had predicted this very outcome.

Frankly, I find it incredibly sad and even though the Berghoff had long ago dropped off my radar, this officializes it.  Union issues aside (because we are not going to discuss politics here), what a lousy way to treat long-standing employees.  And to essentially admit to it in public is also baffling.  Who knows?  Perhaps the dismissed employees were treated well behind the scenes before they were rehired at their likely lower salaries.  That seems very doubtful, however.

The Berghoff, IMO, has lost its right be considered a Chicago institution.  Now, it's just another (privately-owned) business, willing to manipulate and deceive just about anyone without any apparent remorse whatsoever.  Whatever it had been in its glory days -- long before its orchestrated, faux "closing" -- the Berghoff had deteriorated into an over-crowded tourist trap, turning out mediocre food which was revered by the undiscerning.  My guess is that this "reincarnation" by the Berghoff won't have much impact on those undiscerning fans.  Anyone who walks into the place from this point forward is basically saying that they're ok with what the ownership did.

=R=

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Huzzah!

[elfin]

Interestingly, there was no preclosing media reports (Trib and SunTimes) that focused on or highlighted the labor issue. It also did not want to get Landmark Status so that it could sell the property unencumbered (the feds have been eyeing the land for some time). Now there is no sentimental attachment to "11 West" that would raise protests/challenges for a land sale down the road.

[scordelia]

The Berghoff, IMO, has lost its right be considered a Chicago institution.  Now, it's just another (privately-owned) business, willing to manipulate and deceive just about anyone without any apparent remorse whatsoever.

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I always thought they would reopen as a non-union shop--and what does Carolyn get? A big savings of $4 bucks an hour for the waitstaff (plus healthcare)! Let's open our arms and welcome a few dozen more to the ranks of the uninsured.

I hope she goes out of business and loses her shirt.