Local Strikes

Strikes at two well-known local restaurants have forced one to close and the other to begin preliminary negotiations with employees this past week.

The Restaurant at the Orson Welles closed last Friday after the owner failed to obtain a court injunction against striking employees, while lawyers from both management and employees at Steve's Ice Cream in Somerville met for the first time yesterday in the course of the five week strike.

Ralph Hoagland, the landlord for the Restaurant at the Orson Welles, said yesterday he had foreclosed on George Garfinkel, the proprietor of the restaurant, when Garfinkel failed to pay the rent.