ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — A longtime Florida restaurant has abruptly closed its doors, leaving dozens of workers scrambling after they say they have gone weeks without receiving their pay.
Rose Villa Restaurant in Ormond Beach shut down on Friday, Aug. 28, according to reports, with a notice posted on the door stating the business was “closed due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The sudden closure has left employees confused about what happened and whether the restaurant will reopen.
According to the restaurant’s website, Rose Villa had been operating since the late 1880s, making the shutdown especially notable for a business with such a long history in the community.
But for the workers who depended on the restaurant for their income, the immediate concern is much more personal: getting the wages they say they are owed.
Workers Say Paychecks Stopped Arriving
Lindsey Shaver, a former server at Rose Villa, told PEOPLE that employees last received a paycheck on Aug. 2. Workers were typically paid every two weeks, with their checks also including credit card tips they had earned.
Despite the missed paycheck, Shaver said employees continued working.
The restaurant was temporarily closed for three days for fumigation, but workers were reportedly invited to return afterward for a reopening. Shaver said employees continued working and accumulating tips while being assured that their delayed pay was on the way.
“Paycheck is delayed, okay fine,” Shaver recalled thinking.
According to Shaver, co-owner Patrick Sullivan repeatedly told employees that the money was coming and that they should not worry. But the delays continued.
“That kept going on, as we continued to work and earn tips. Excuses everyday, ensuring it would just be a few more days,” she said.
Employees Learn Their Payroll Accounts Were Deactivated
The situation became even more alarming for employees on Aug. 28. Workers received an email from the restaurant’s payroll company informing them that their status had been changed to inactive.
Employees then attempted to contact Sullivan and his wife, Carol Ann, who reportedly handles the restaurant’s finances.
According to the workers, they were unable to get clear information about their unpaid wages or what would happen next. Shaver said Sullivan has since “seemingly vanished from public view.”
The affected employees have reportedly contacted the labor board and employment attorneys as they try to determine what legal options are available to recover their money.
About 26 workers are said to have been affected.
Workers Struggle With Rent and Family Expenses
The sudden loss of income has reportedly created serious financial problems for employees who were depending on their restaurant wages.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the affected workers, with proceeds expected to be divided evenly among employees directly impacted by the closure.
Shaver said the timing has made the situation particularly difficult for families.
“With this happening towards the end of the month, it has put a lot of us in tricky situations with rent, new mortgages, new babies,” she said.
She added that any money raised through the fundraiser could provide a financial buffer for affected families. Former employee Kachina Starr also described the situation as “devastating”.
“We have a lot of families here that just bought homes, have new children — young children — so it’s been very devastating, just the reaction from the owner being none,” Starr said.
Restaurant’s Future Remains Unclear
The sudden closure has also created uncertainty for customers who had upcoming reservations and events scheduled at Rose Villa.
Some customers are reportedly unsure whether those plans will proceed or whether refunds will be issued.
Property owner Bill Jones told that the closure resulted from “a sudden and undisclosed decision by the proprietor” who controls the restaurant’s operations under the terms of a lease with his company.
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Jones said he does not control the restaurant’s operations and described himself as “extremely saddened” by the situation.
Meanwhile, a person who identified themselves on Reddit as a longtime employee said workers initially were not particularly suspicious about the delayed checks because they believed the restaurant was doing enough business to cover payroll.
The employee said workers later learned that the payroll company was no longer doing business with Rose Villa and that employees could no longer access their accounts.
Workers Wait for Answers
The employees now face an uncertain future as they seek answers about their unpaid wages and whether Rose Villa will ever reopen.
The restaurant’s abrupt closure has affected not only workers who say they are owed money, but also customers with upcoming plans and a local business with a history stretching back more than a century.
For the employees, however, the priority is clear: they want the wages they say they earned and answers from management about what happens next.
What do you think should happen when workers are left without their promised pay after a sudden business closure? Share your thoughts in the comments.