In pushing for answers on behalf of dozens of Moe’s Southwest Grill employees across Central Florida, after they say they went unpaid last week and were still being asked to come into work.
We found out the owner of that Moe’s runs several restaurants from Tampa to Orlando. We tried to speak with him to ask when employees will be paid.
During what would have been the lunch rush at the Moe’s along 17/92 in Winter Park, we saw employees turning customers away, and packing up food. They were closing, because workers say they haven’t been paid in over two weeks.
“I’ve been letting people know that we’re not open, and this is why,” Manager Tiffany McKenna said. “I don’t understand how a franchise is in such dire straits that they can’t make payroll. Payroll should be the first thing you pay. It’s the people that are running your front line. So I just don’t understand.”
McKenna showed us an email she says was sent last week by the franchise owner, who we confirmed is Tony Friel. Friel has more than 30 inactive LLCs related to restaurants across Central Florida.
Friel owns both Lakeland locations. Not sure when he acquired them.
The email says, in part, ‘We have been fighting to keep up with all other bills. But unfortunately, we cannot make payroll,’ blaming an issue with deposits at the bank.
“They are living paycheck to paycheck, and they need to eat, they need to keep their cars, they need to pay their rent,” McKenna said. “This isn’t right.”