Ex-Employees Sue Hawaiian Tropic Zone, Alleging Rape

Midtown's Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurant, whose bikini-clad waitresses make Hooters look like Chuck E. Cheese, has been hit with a $600 million discrimination lawsuit by four female former employees who accuse executives of ignoring their complaints against one-time general manager Anthony Rakis. The lawsuit declares that Rakis's relentless sexual harassment escalated into rape after a pre-opening party in 2006, when he jumped into the cab of former floor manager Giulietta Consalvo. Rakis allegedly threw money at the driver during the assault and said, "Keep driving, buddy," leaving her at her apartment "appearing drugged and disoriented."

Court papers obtained by the Daily News maintain that a few days later, Rakis begged Consalvo not to tell anyone: "I went to my priest this weekend. Please don't tell anybody. It was the alcohol." According to the Post, he also added, "I used to be a very bad person, but my wife turned me around. Please think about my wife," who was pregnant at the time. Another plaintiff, former hostess Stephanie Cheng, says Rakis forced her to perform fellatio on him in a basement storage area last March, telling her, "Don't say anything or else you'll be in hot water like I will be. I have a wife and I have kids and I can't afford to lose this job."

Want more sordid details? Big shot chef David Burke is also named in the lawsuit for allegedly groping Consalvo, who says Dennis Riese, chairman of the company that runs the restaurant, gave her a $10,000 raise and thanked her for not reporting the rape to police. Rakis's lawyer denies the allegations, and Burke was unavailable for comment. When Hawaiian Tropic Zone opened, it was learned that the waitresses live two to a room in an Upper East Side dorm, and Rakis came off as a world class asshole when interviewed by the Observer (scroll down) in 2006.

Photo of current Zone lady Karalyn via HTZ's site.(that's pictured)

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 8, 2008 6:05 PM

Comments [rss]

piercep2

so are they prosecuting for the rape as well?

jaycjay

"People have been asking Gothamist to change this picture for almost 19 hours now, and still no? Why the determination to stay the course?"

Because they see nothing wrong with the photo, and "people asking" don't make the decision.

If they do... OK, I'll ask that the photo stay. It's not a "rape story," it's a story about a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct at restaurant where the female employees wear bikinis. A photo illustrating the outfits that are required to be worn at the establishment in question seems perfectly appropriate.

pete

@SantosCollandriana

HTZ's salary and tips must be so poor that can only get strip club rejects.

mattcarman

People have been asking Gothamist to change this picture for almost 19 hours now, and still no? Why the determination to stay the course? Is John trying to smear an ex-girlfriend?

schizofriendly

Keen observation, #11.

Pull My Finger

nice rack

RoDogg

Yes, a great picture for a rape story! Again, Jen Chung, you are the founder of this site and this is how you want to be represented. As a women you should be offended. This is the photo you want representing a rape story? This site really has issues, not just about racist but integrity. Whenever the founder is posting in the same story where racist remakes are being said and never denounce them, something is just wrong.

jaycjay

"I'm a little surprised that the Daily News would print the names of the alleged victims and even more surprised to see the names here."

The alleged victims filed a civil suit, making the choice to put their allegations into public record.

Printing their names isn't at all the same as printing those of victims who report a sexual assault, which most new sources wouldn't do.

soopaman

10,000!!! way to much. Next time this guy should try Craigs list.

zodak

i love hot chicks in bikinis but this photo should be replaced.

Rob T Firefly

@10: Probably something to do with exchanging the money they get for being there for things like food and shelter, just like people at other jobs.

HenryKrinkle

When you act like a whore you deserve to be treated like a filthy whore. These women had choices-show off your tits and ass for great tips and be mauled by scum of the earth or get real jobs... They craved cash and attention like any other dirty filthy whore

NannyState

I hate the Hooters panty hose. It's like forcing an attractive person to wear a bimbo suit. It confirms my belief that hosiery is the root of all evil.

JenChungsBaby

I like the giant cross between her tits. I bet Jesus approves.

JacqueMehoff

do they have a panty hose rule like hooter's?

Rfive

its kinda fucked up you guys haven't changed the picture already. its shoddy journalism to run a photo of someone who is not in any way related to the story. at least put a bar over her eyes.

longacre

Interesting that these events allegedly occurred years ago, but this lawsuit was filed just weeks after the shuttering of Lehman HQ down the street...probably these girls' best source of tips.

mocanlagunas

What goes through the minds of these girls? No, really, I would like to know...

SantosCollandriana

Just paging through the photo gallery on their HTZ New York site I feel confident enough to say most of these girls couldn't place 2nd in a Miss Great Kills Landfill pageant.