By Gus Saltonstall
The owner of a former barbecue restaurant on the Upper West Side has been indicted for wage theft, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Thursday.
Patrick Griffin, 71, was indicted for allegedly stealing at least $8,000 in wages from five of his employees, according to the DA’s office.
Au Jus, the Oklahoma-style barbecue chain, had three New York City locations, including at 2621 Broadway, on the corner of West 99th Street. All three are now closed.
“As alleged, Patrick Griffin, owner of the popular Au Jus restaurant, took advantage of his workers and stole their hard-earned wages while they provided physically demanding labor,” Bragg said in a news release. “Griffin was allegedly vacationing in Europe while his employees were begging him for their money that they earned and need to support their families.”
Au Jus’s Upper West Side location closed in September of 2025, after the front door was boarded and a Marshal’s Notice was posted on the front door. The neighborhood outpost opened in 2020.
Griffin allegedly engaged in a “pattern of wage theft against his workers” beginning in January 2025, and ignored messages and blocked phone numbers when those employees followed up for their payment, according to the Manhattan DA’s office.
“Griffin told a former employee that he would not be paid unless he and his coworkers returned to work at the restaurant. When the worker returned to work, Griffin continued withholding his wages, and the worker was forced to leave again,” the Manhattan DA’s office wrote. “In another instance, Griffin demanded that a worker sign a document that falsely claimed he did not have government-issued identification. When the worker refused to sign the false document, Griffin withheld his wages.”
After the unsuccessful attempts to recover the wages, employees reported Griffin’s conduct to the Worker Protection Hotline, which led to the Manhattan District Attorney investigation.
Griffin is officially charged with grand larceny in the third degree by wage theft, scheme to defraud in the first degree, and failure to pay wages in accordance with the labor law.
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Deafening silence from the tough-on-crime crew!
Curious – if assuming a jury finds him guilty, what sort of sentence or restitution would you advise?
This one is for the anti-corporate crew.
Anyone remember the name of the UWS Chinese restaurant that closed after the owners were found guilty of stealing millions of dollars in wages and tips from their employees?
Perhaps you are thinking of Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Grill?
Yes, thanks. That was it.
Whaaaat? What happened with Saigon Grill? I still miss it
Ollies?
This place was probably failing, which is why it closed. Then he was juggling funds to try to keep it open. These people likely won’t get their money. Sad.
If he doesn’t have $8k then I bet they can figure out some sort of payment plan, as I’m sure he’s at least receiving social security payments. Even better if that forces him to pinch pennies, get a taste of his own medicine.
$8000 theft is pocket change, Conviction is unlikely The man is 71 years old. It will cost the city much more to prosecute. It will never go to trial and likely be dropped byt he prosecutuin.
$8k is a lot to workers that are barely making ends meet. You’re right that he likely won’t serve jail time, but wrong to minimize the harm to the workers.
Can I come over to your house and help myself to $8K “pocket change” from your pockets?
Has anyone gone to At Lucia’s Pizzeria, which pizza did you have & what is your review?
good, plain slice, comparable (though not the same as) Made in New York on Amsterdam at 72/73. $3.50 a slice.
La Traviata, a stone;s throw away is still in the mix as a more ‘original’ NYC street slice with a better interior atmosphere than Lucia’s.
His actions are beyond shameful. I hope his employees receive their appropriate compensation.
From who? Unless the court confiscates some of his assets these poor people won’t see anything.
They SHOULD confiscate some of his assets to do so.
If this results in a conviction, which would result in a fine (vs. jail time), who would take precedence between NYS or Employees?
Stealing from the poor to fund his European vacations. This guy and any “white collar criminals” like him should be put away for years—this guy is worse than anyone who robs you on the street because this guy isn’t desperate for money. He just thinks he can take advantage of poor people and get away with it. We need a good old-fashioned Robin Hood right now because guys in suits can get away with anything. This guy may only be ordered to serve probation and pay restitution if it’s a first offense. Prison time is unlikely.
He is not worse than a guy who robs you on the street. They are equally bad in different ways, and I hope they get paid plus extra
I LIKE TO TIP IN CASH DIRECTLY TO THE SERVER.
He should be lock up‼️
I never eat there TG‼️
What a low life ‼️