Salt Lake Tribune:
About 70 employees who worked at the now-closed Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Salt Lake City haven’t been paid, and several who talked with The Tribune said they aren’t sure when they will be able to get their money from financially troubled franchise owner Gene Kwon.
Kwon has been named in several lawsuits accusing him of leaving his creditors with millions of dollars in debts, including $240,000 the Utah State Tax Commission says he owes in back taxes.
Ruth’s Chris was the last restaurant the 41-year-old Kwon owned during a once spectacular career that at one point included 11 popular eateries along the Wasatch Front and title to six commercial buildings.
The Park City Ruth’s Chris, owned by a separate franchisee, remains open.
Several employees who had worked in the Salt Lake franchise said they were told last month the restaurant would close Saturday. But when they came to work after the New Year’s holiday, they were informed it would close that day, Jan 2.