Eddie Merlot’s Employees File Lawsuit Over Alleged Racist Work Environment at Bloomfield Hills Steakhouse | Eater Detroit

"I learned that at the Bloomfield Hills steakhouse Eddie Merlot’s, six employees walked off the job and filed a lawsuit alleging a racist work environment tied to general manager Curtis Nordeen. Sous chef James Gaines, who is Black, and co-workers say they warned Nordeen in July to stop making racist comments, but he allegedly refused, offered raises to keep staff, joked about shoving watermelon down the throats of Black children, mocked Sunday church hats worn by Black women, accused Black customers of being on drugs, and implemented what the complaint calls “Jim Crow segregation” by seating Black and white customers separately and preferring Black servers for Black customers because it made him feel more comfortable. Attorney Zach Runyan says the restaurant appeared to side with Nordeen and let employees quit rather than stop the behavior; the restaurant has responded that it is a discrimination-free workplace, is taking the allegations seriously, and, on counsel’s advice, has no further comment while litigation is pending." - Serena Maria Daniels