SEATTLE - What's to blame - the bad economy or bad business? Employees of a Belltown restaurant would like to know.
The current and former workers at Belltown's Cucina De-Ra say owner James Malevitsis hasn't paid them in weeks.
"He says he's broke," said Dragon Radulovic.
"We are still owed our payroll check from June 5th, June 20th, and July 5th," said waitress Laura Francesconi. "I'm personally owed three checks."
The problems started months ago, according to employees. They say vendors started complaining about unpaid bills, and Malevitsis would dish up more excuses than food.
"He says he has a hard time with the bank, this and that," said Sno Valley Produce owner Shawn Yazdni.
He says he's sold Malevitsis produce since he opened the restaurant three years ago, but he hasn't been paid in a year.
"It's very frustrating, we have to pay out to get produce," Yazdni said. "Our income is going down."
Cucina De-Ra opened in 2006 to plenty of fanfare. It offers great views of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Sculpture Park, and was owned by Malevitsis, who was behind Adriatica, and other popular eateries.
Malevitsis denied the allegations today, saying "there is nothing to prove," adding "at any one moment, people could be owed money, people could owe me money." He did say he "(wishes) it would be busier."
The restaurant's landlord also says Malevitsis is several months behind on his rent, and they've tried to evict him.
The employees hope they get their money before that happens.
"I almost had my phone shut off, my insurance has been cancelled I caught up with that, I keep coming to work cause I can eat here," said Francesconi. "I need to take a stand for myself and other employees; we just want to be paid."
The Washington Restaurant Association says several restaurants are running out of cash, but situations where employees don't get paid are rare.
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