Therapy Café, the uptown meeting spot recently accused of racism, has closed.

A sign announcing the news greeted lunchtime diners Tuesday at the north Tryon Street bar and grill. “Therapy Café is closed for business,” it stated. “We would like to thank all of our patrons for your support over the years.”

Workers representing the leasing company were busy moving patio chairs inside the building. One of them expressed surprise by the closing. He then refused to comment further.

“This is between the leasing agent and the client,” he said.

Therapy’s closing comes less than two weeks after a local events promoter, Kirk Brown of Six Figure Entertainment, accused the restaurant’s management of racism.

In an email sent to more than 9,000 people, Brown alleged that Therapy routinely added a 20 percent gratuity during events popular with African Americans. When Six Figure complained, the email further alleged, Therapy’s “management staff” said the practice was necessary because “African American people don’t tip.”

Scattered calls for a boycott soon went out over Facebook and other social media.

Adam Rees, Therapy’s general manager at the time, denied the allegations, calling them “completely slanderous.”

Another Qcity promoter, Christopher Dennis, recently sued the restaurant’s parent company, JS & TL Group Inc., in small-claims court, alleging that the owners violated the terms of a deal he had with them during the 2010 CIAA basketball tournament in February.

He asked the court to award him $3,800. The case is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Documents registered with the N.C. secretary of state list Therapy's owners as Richard J. Stone of Denver, N.C., and Timothy Low of Charlotte. They serve as president and vice president, respectively.

Neither could be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
 

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