Ollie's Noodle Chain Owner Forks Over Millions in Back Wages

State labor officials have recovered $2.3 million in back wages for more than 800 workers at nine restaurants, including the Ollie's noodle shop mini-chain, all owned by Tsu Yue Wang. After years of protests, the wages were recovered on behalf of cooks, delivery workers and waiters, and labor officials tell the AP that some were owed as much as $30,000. In a statement, Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith said, "These restaurants are known throughout the city for supplying Asian food for families at reasonable prices. But as families enjoyed quality food at a price they could afford, workers toiled under the weight of below-minimum wages, late paychecks and lack of overtime payments." So misery is the secret ingredient that makes Ollie's noodles so delicious! The payout comes on the heels of a Labor Department settlement with Amish Markets, whose owners cheated workers out of $1.5 million in overtime. Up next: the 21 Club is being sued by employees for withholding part of their tips.

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By John Del Signore in Food on March 19, 2009 11:13 AM

Comments [rss]

felixthecat2

Ollies food was untasty and the restaurant across Sony theaters seem kind of dirty

Seizure

if they raise my chicken noodle dish to $10 so help me........

whitecastlerock

Ollies is NOT quality food. The delivery people were the absolute worst I have ever encountered...

wobbleSmith

i sorta wish this had shut ollies down because they are gross.

don't forget about the absurd overhead they must pay on their locations, babyhitler!

babyhitler

DUH! when every other law abiding restaurant charges 15 for an entree and you get it for 6 bucks there is shenanigans going on. Funny thing is that if you were to pay the workers minimum wage, then takeout would cost 10-15 bucks on average and then nobody would get takeout, the restaurant would close, and all the workers would be fired. Welcome to the real world folks, it doesn't make sense.

Gothamist_Cynic

Not true. It's American's own damn fault for allowing restaurant owners to pay their waiters crap wages and rely on tips. The whole tipping system should be done away with.