Seven Lions’ Future on Michigan Avenue Is In Doubt After $764K Eviction Lawsuit

Seven Lions, the Michigan Avenue restaurant opened three years ago by Check, Please! host Alpana Singh, appears to be on the last of its nine lives. While Singh sold her stake in the restaurant in August 2017, the building’s landlords are now suing Singh’s former business partners for $764,000 in back rent. He was also hit with an eviction notice. Singh is not named in the lawsuit.

Adding to the intrigue is DineAmic Group, the company behind Bar Siena and Prime & Provisions, has filed a liquor license application for the address at 130 S. Michigan Avenue. The license is under “Bar Siena — BomboBar.” That’s the name of DineAmic’s West Loop bar/dessert counter and takeout window. DineAmic isn’t ready to comment on plans for the space as Seven Lions continues to serve customers.

Bar Siena [Official Photo]

Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Seven Lions feels similar to how Boarding House, Singh’s former River North restaurant, closed in July. Seven Lions and Boarding House shared the same ownership group; Singh had also divested from Boarding House. Earlier this year, Boarding House’s landlords filed a back rent lawsuit against the restaurant’s owners.

Singh, when reached via text, reiterated she is no longer part of Seven Lions’ ownership. The master sommelier returned to her role as host of Check, Please! earlier this year.

“It’s an unfortunate situation and I feel for my former partner John Ward and the employees but I haven’t been involved in Seven Lions for a very long time,” she texted.

Seven Lions is owned by Ward. Ward didn’t immediately reply to an email. Crain’s first reported news of the Seven Lions lawsuit, and that the restaurant’s ownership and the building’s landlords will again be in court in December.

This is a developing story so stay tuned for the latest news.