Eater: Manhattan’s First Carl’s Jr. Still Owes Wages After Sudden Shutter, Staffers Allege

Last January, following a full year of publicity, Carl’s Jr. opened its first location in Manhattan. In June, just five months after the grand opening, the Manhattan Carl’s Jr. location closed permanently.

Now, Eater New York is reporting that former employees of the Manhattan Carl’s Jr., including the store's general manager, still have not been paid for their final week of work. The former employees allege that franchise owner John Golbari has withheld more than $1,700 worth of wages owed to staffers.

The claimants have reached out to CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc., Carl’s Jr.’s parent company, but were told the holding company could not intervene in the dispute.

In a statement to Eater, a spokesperson for CKE said the company is working with Golbari to resolve the issue.

“Although CKE corporate is not responsible for franchisee employee relations issues, we are working with the Manhattan franchise owner to help him remedy this issue as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said.