FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale upscale restaurant Salt 7 has officially been evicted from its prime location at Icon Las Olas. The eviction, carried out early Tuesday morning by Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, follows weeks of controversy over unpaid wages and bounced checks.
Salt 7 is located at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd. directly along the Riverwalk.
A court-ordered writ of possession was executed, and building management promptly changed the locks, leaving Salt 7 shuttered. Some employees who gathered outside the restaurant were told to come this morning to collect back pay but were met with locked doors and no answers.
“They told me to come in today to get my money. I don’t see anybody,” said Llrill Louis, a line cook who worked at Salt 7 for two years.
Local 10′s Jeff Weinsier informed Louis Salt 7 had been evicted.
Louis claims he is owed three weeks of pay for more than 90 hours of work and worries about how he will support his family. He is not alone — dozens of former and current employees have shared similar concerns.
Last week, Local 10 News first reported on the growing complaints against Salt 7′s owner, John Kostoglou. Employees have taken to social media, accusing the business of withholding wages, including tips and credit card gratuities.
“So Salt 7 is a business that steals from their staff,” read one social media post. “They don’t pay their staff their credit card tips or any tips. They don’t pay their kitchen staff. They don’t pay anyone.”
Employees question where the restaurant’s revenue has gone, given that business had reportedly been steady. Attempts to reach Kostoglou for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful. However, in a phone interview last week, he denied allegations of unpaid wages.
“Employees aren’t getting paid?” Local 10′s Jeff Weinsier asked.
“That’s incorrect,” Kostoglou responded, before conceding, “We are working on every single one with my bookkeeper.”
Yael Freedman, a current employee, claims the owner owes him over $2,000. “So what are you doing here? You working for free?” Weinsier asked. “Basically, yeah,” Freedman replied.
Daniel, the restaurant’s chef, also expressed frustration, stating, “I’m leaving! I’m the chef here, and my check bounced.”
With Salt 7 now permanently closed, employees fear they may never see the money they are owed. When asked if he believed he would be paid, Louis simply said, “No, I don’t think so.”
Since Local 10′s initial report last Friday, the station has heard from dozens of former employees—not only from Salt 7 but from other restaurants as well—who say they have experienced similar issues. For those seeking assistance with unpaid wages, Local 10 has compiled resources from federal, state, and local agencies.
How to file a complaint for back wages
Employees who are owed wages by their employer have several options to recover their money. They can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) by calling the toll-free helpline at 1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or by submitting a complaint online at DOL’s website.
It is important to keep relevant documentation, such as pay stubs and time records, to support the claim.
For those in Broward County, there is also a wage recovery ordinance that provides an additional avenue for employees to seek restitution, with more details available here. Employees with hearing or speech disabilities can access services by dialing 711.
In Miami Dade, the Consumer Mediation Center handles wage disputes that meet required criteria in cases of underpayment and non-payment of wages earned by employees working in Miami-Dade County.
The law applies to all private employers with employees who are performing work within Miami-Dade County, without any regard to the physical location of the employer.