Investigators Raid Three Locations Of Parlor Pizza Restaurant
By Tara Molina and Charlie De Mar
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police raided a popular pizza restaurant's three locations on Wednesday morning, assisting the Illinois Department of Revenue with an unspecified criminal investigation, sources told CBS 2.
Chicago Police officers and employees with the city's Buildings Department were taking pictures inside the Parlor Pizza restaurant at 405 N. Dearborn St. in River North. It appeared the popular pizza chain was being investigated for a possible financial crime.
HAPPENING NOW ⤵️
— Tara Molina (@TaraMolinaTV) October 27, 2021
First on @cbschicago…
Parlor Pizza is tied to a state investigation with police and investigator presence at locations now.
Employees that showed up to work were turned away.
Closed by city's Department of Buildings.
We continue to gather the latest. https://t.co/Ajwry7vbnW pic.twitter.com/oPa8dwkFla
Investigators were also at the restaurant's Wicker Park location, 1824 W. Division St., and the West Loop location, 108 N. Green St. Agents were seen sitting inside the West Loop shop with stacks of boxes, CBS 2's Jackie Kostek reported. Investigators spent several hours inside the three locations, which remained closed on Wednesday.
Parlor's West Loop location closed and quiet from the outside but several law enforcement officers are sitting inside, with boxes stacked on tables @TaraMolinaTV @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/5pQGMHVSg3
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) October 27, 2021
Employees who showed up to work in River North were locked out and had no idea what was going on, CBS 2's Tara Molina reported.
Officers could be seen through the windows standing inside at the River North location, and going in and out through the alley side entrance.
David Shapiro lives steps from the Wicker Park location, and took pictures of folded evidence boxes in the hands of a special agent and a heavy police presence.
"It's a big restaurant - a big chain. I've been there many times myself, so I was just curious to see what was going on," Shapiro said. "A staple in the area and the city - so disturbing for sure."
In a statement, the Illinois Department of Revenue said: "In the event of potential violations of the Illinois Tax Act and related offenses, our Bureau of Criminal Investigations will investigate potential violations. The Illinois Department of Revenue cannot comment on ongoing investigations, however, or their existence."
An official with Chicago's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department said the restaurants have active, applicable licenses and "are in good standing." The Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was not part of today's action.
An attorney for Pizza Parlor declined to comment.
In 2017, Parlor Pizza was sued in federal court for failing to pay overtime wages for former dishwashers.
That matter was settled in February, 2018.