 In early September 2009, two years into the Great Recession, Lang announced that the café was closing; shortly thereafter, Lang filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, claiming debts of nearly $500,000, some of which was owed to a union benefit trust.At the time, he also faced a lawsuit from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Welfare Fund.In 2011, a new restaurant, The Leopard at des Artistes, opened in the location.