Home Wine Kitchen co-owners Cassy Vires and Josh Renbarger announced last weekend the last day the restaurant would be open is Dec. 31. The reason for the closing is a lawsuit that alleges illegal tip pooling, Vires told St. Louis Magazine. Two former employees filed the petition this year.
The former employees allege they were forced to share their tips with managers and kitchen staff, who do not ordinarily receive tips. They are seeking back wages, damages and attorney’s fees. The plaintiffs’ attorneys say the wait staff was not paid minimum wage.
Vires told St. Louis Magazine, “The allegations that we paid our staff less than minimum wage are false. We feel strongly that our policies were well within the legal parameters, and we would ask that people remember that allegations are just that—allegations.”
Read the full article in St. Louis Magazine.
Very sad they are closing their doors. Maplewood will suffer the most
That’s sad. I really liked that place.