After nine months of refusing to elaborate, Lynn Winter finally explained why she closed Lynn's Paradise Cafe in January: "She said the restaurant closed because she was battling shingles, which she is still suffering from," WHAS 11 reports.

Winter will list the restaurant with a broker, Ken Kapp of the Allston Group, on Monday, according to WDRB 41. Previously she was fielding offers herself.

"It is not just a restaurant, it's more like an icon," Winter told WDRB. "It has all of these quirky things that make it a unique sale, that make it not difficult to sell, just more complex."

Winter also told WDRB that she could possibly keep a minority financial interest in the restaurant but not a controlling one. "I'll probably work with the new owners, most likely in some manner or fashion and hopefully that fashion will be to get really wild," she said."

To recap the last nine days of the restaurant's life: On Jan. 2, 2013, Lynn's started requiring all food servers to carry $100 cash for each shift to tip out support staff, a possible violation of Kentucky law. At least one waitress, Leila DiFazio, claimed she was fired for failing to do so. DiFazio then shared her story on WLKY's Facebook Fan Page. On Jan. 11, Kentucky Jobs With Justice: A Campaign for Worker's Rights started an awareness campaign about Lynn's practices, that drew the attention of WAVE 3, which aired segments about the dispute on its 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. Later that day, Winter shuttered the 22-year-old restaurant.

Which, we found out yesterday, was because she had shingles.

·All Lynn's Paradise Cafe coverage [~ELOU~]

[Photo: Courtesy WDRB 41]

WDRB 41 Louisville News