Winston's Restaurant and Pub in Fulton officially closed its doors Sunday, Nov. 1 and several employees are not happy.
Posts on the restaurant's Facebook page concerning the shop's closure, which have since been deleted, accused the eatery's owner, Shawn Browning, and manager Josh Sheets of failing to notify their employees and allegedly skipping out on paychecks.
"I came into work and everything was gone," Keith Pickett, a former employee said. "The alcohol and food was gone. Another guy came in and said they closed up shop. I wanted my money, but nobody ever answered their phone."
Browning said that Pickett and another employee were the only two not to receive paychecks the same day other employees received theirs. Browning went on to say that the two would be compensated later in the week, but did not explain why their pay was withheld.
Browning also said employees were aware the restaurant would close if sales had not reached a necessary benchmark by Nov. 1, but Pickett and former manager Jarika Sorell said that Browning did not indicate the restaurant would be closing.
"I even as a manager had no idea Winston's was closing its doors," Sorell said in a Facebook message. "When you're not making enough money to pay your vendors, bills or employees, you really can't afford to keep the doors open."
Sorell blamed high labor and little business for the late paychecks.
Browning is the only person on the lease for the building and said that he is a month behind on paying rent. Browning was also the applicant for two other businesses including Big Belly Vapors.
The building and equipment used by the restaurant is owned by Steve Breid. Breid also has copyright ownership of the previous name, Sir Winston's, after Dick Walls retired and shut down the restaurant.