---
title: "The Chaser: Restaurant News"
description: "Restaurant news: 96,000 gallons of wine flow into the the Russian River in Sonoma County and the famous NY gastropub, Spotted Pig, closes its doors after year of a hostile workplace plus more new this week."
---

[Backbar Academy | Free Guides & Resources for Bar & Restaurant Professionals ](https://academy.getbackbar.com)

# [The Chaser: Restaurant News](https://academy.getbackbar.com/the-chaser-restaurant-news-1/31)

 Written by [Jordan Brydges](https://academy.getbackbar.com/author/jordan-brydges) | Jan 31, 2020 4:39:43 PM

The largest wine spill in over 20 years spilled 96,000 gallons of wine and the famous Spotted Pig restaurant has shut its doors. 

 

## 96,000 Gallons of Wine Spills Into River in Sonoma County

 

Source: [The Press Democrat](https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10622264-181/pd-default-story-headline-xy?sba=AAS&artslide=1)

 

Last week enough wine to fill 500,000 bottles flowed into the largest river in Sonoma County.  This could likely be the largest spill in county history in the past 20 years.  Somehow a door near the bottom of a 100,000-gallon blending tank popped opened and spilled anywhere from 46,000 to 96,000 gallons of wine.  Officials are out there to determine any effects on the river ecosystem.  Luckily the recent rain has brought higher water levels that helped to dilute the wine in the river.  Officials said about 20% of the spill has been contained. 

 

## The Influential Spotted Pig in NY Has Officially Closed

 

Source: [Eater](https://www.eater.com/2020/1/28/21112254/spotted-pig-closed-ken-friedman-what-it-means-metoo)

 

The famous NY Spotted Pig legacy of 20 years is officially over, after allegations of sexual misconduct of owner Ken Friedman.  This closure leaves 78 full and part-time workers to look for jobs elsewhere.  The famous restaurant "maintained a hostile workplace."  So hostile that a settlement led to Friedman to pay $240,000 and 20% of his profits to 11 ex-employees for the next decade.  A Michelin Star, long wait times, and spots on the Best Of lists couldn't keep this pioneering gastropub open, and instead of being a groundbreaking restaurant, became the symbol of a workplace culture full of sexism and abuse.   

 

## More Headlines This Week 

 

[Famous Bar Louie Files for Bankruptcy and Closes 38 Locations ](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/bar-louie-files-bankruptcy-after-closing-38-units?utm_source=Marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_RB_Alert_01-27-20&LID=10616350&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTVRjeU16YzJNMlUwTkdReCIsInQiOiJiZ29qYzdSNVRnWlZWcXZJTWZYSVBScXRoaTFaOGtpQzNkcWdWeTJtRmVxcUVWdjVUNlFMYVlleHNGa2RPanY4SHY0WHdzeXdaNmYzanNqWVlseWJENUUyNkNyRlIwa0ZtZkNRRHpCRkxWUWpQWjV5WGdxUTFRUmtrXC9HZGFCOXgifQ%3D%3D)

 

[Chipotle to Pay $1.37 Million for Violating Child Labor Laws](https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/chipotle-to-pay-more-than-1m-settle-massachusetts-child-labor-violations/571247/)

 

[Fastest Growing Burger Joint Leaves Workers Unpaid and Franchisees Bankrupt](https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/emerging-brands/burgerim-disaster)

 

[Delivery Apps Keeps Adding Restaurants Without Their Consent ](https://www.eater.com/2020/1/29/21113416/grubhub-seamless-kin-khao-online-delivery-mistake-doordash)

[View full post](https://academy.getbackbar.com/the-chaser-restaurant-news-1/31)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Jordan Brydges"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2020-01-31T16:42:43.250Z",
  "datePublished" : "2020-01-31T16:39:43Z",
  "headline" : "The Chaser: Restaurant News",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 286,
    "url" : "https://www.getbackbar.com/hubfs/Product%20and%20Marketing%20Photos/Blog%20and%20Design%20Assets/The%20Chaser%20Restaurant%20and%20Bar%20Weekly%20News.png",
    "width" : 696
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://academy.getbackbar.com/the-chaser-restaurant-news-1/31",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5163161/Web%20Design%20Assets%20/Backbar%20Logos/Backbar-Logo-100x154.png",
      "width" : 38.961037
    },
    "name" : "Backbar Academy"
  }
}
```