After Investigation By State Labor Department, Is Owner Of "Olive Vine Café" Taking Time To Reflect?

photo credit: eatingbrooklyn on flickr

Then
and now

After being fined more than $200,000 for underpaying and over-working employees at two of his Olive Vine Café restaurants, business owner Zaid Demis has closed the doors of his 316 Court Street location. Though a note in the window would suggest that the Middle Eastern eatery will re-open on February 1st, the sign has been removed from the building's façade, newspapers have been taped over the windows and workers were seen carrying construction debris out of the storefront.It is unclear if Demis is just remodeling the space or if he is going to re-open under a new name. Perhaps he has given up the location completely. Back in November 2009, when the Daily News reported that Demis violated the minimum wage laws by paying his cooks as little as $6 an hour, he lamented to the newspaper:
"I don't have $200,000. Where the hell am I going to get that? Now I'm probably going to have to close my doors if they really insist on me paying."

Perhaps, Mr. Demis is merely taking a break to reflect on his poor treatment of his employees.