Iconic Chicago meat store closes after 150 years

CHICAGO — An iconic Chicago meat store is in bankruptcy and has shut its doors after 150 years.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports (http://bit.ly/qUUtPZ ) that all four Moo & Oink stores closed Friday after a judge placed the company in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The stores located primarily in African-American neighborhoods on the city's South and West sides employed 200 people.

A lawyer for the company's largest creditor says it plans to ask to take over Moo & Oink's assets to sell them.

An investor group is hoping to buy the company and keep it intact.

Mary Steele, a spokeswoman for employees, says they were notified of the closing on Sept. 9 and weren't offered severance.

Steele says she was hoping to retire in 2012 after more than 29 years with the company.