California restaurant cites ‘Ladies Night’ discrimination lawsuit as cause for closure

CONCORD, Calif. (KRON) – A California restaurant is preparing to close at the end of the year due to the financial burden of a lawsuit it says stems from its "Ladies Night" deal.

Lima Restaurant, located in the Todos Santos Plaza in Concord, California, took to social media to inform patrons of the closure. 

“We are deeply grateful to our loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years,” the Peruvian restaurant, located about 20 miles outside of Oakland, said in the open letter. “Your patronage has meant the world to us, and we are proud of the community we built together.”

The eatery cites not being able to “fully recover from the recent discrimination lawsuit related to our ladies’ night discount.” Lima Restaurant also mentioned increasing costs for operations being a cause for the closure. 

With several restaurants in the area having closed during the pandemic, Lima was one of the few remaining independent restaurants on the square.

Chef and owner John Marquez told Nexstar's KRON that the lawsuit has cost his restaurant tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, effectively eating through Lima's winter reserves in cash.

The discrimination lawsuit stemmed from the establishment having a "Ladies Night," where drinks and wine were half-priced for women for three hours every week, according to the restaurant. 

The promotion had been going on for years, and Marquez said his family believes they were targeted by people who aren't local and want to take advantage of California's laws meant to promote equity. The state's Department of Consumer Affairs even warns businesses against using "gender-based promotions" as they can be "considered discriminatory."

Additional details about the lawsuit were not immediately available.

Lima is a popular restaurant in the area with lots of regular customers who say it will be missed.

"Promoting one gender does not discriminate against one gender," regular John Dias told KRON.

"Hello, I'm a lady. If I want to go out with the girls, it doesn't seem like a rude thing to do," added Mel Ludehese who was having a last drink at Lima with Dias.

"Since COVID, this whole square has been kind of shut down," Dias added. "Concord is strip malls and this is the only one that is not."

The Peruvian eatery’s last day of business is Dec. 31.