Luciano’s closes after 3 months

By Jean Cole
jean@athensnews-courier.com

September 02, 2008 10:45 pm

— Sean Davis arrived at Luciano’s in downtown Athens a little before 11 a.m. Tuesday to pick up his paycheck and noticed the doors of the restaurant were locked and the “closed” sign hung in the window.
The restaurant closed for good Tuesday after only three months in business, they were told by Luciano’s head chef.
It’s swift demise mirrors the short run of its predecessor, Giovanni’s Italian Bistro, which abruptly closed in February after eight months.
Davis was one of six young people gathered outside the eatery Tuesday morning wondering how, or if, they were going to collect two weeks of pay due them.
“The executive chef, Sean Kane, told me he would try to get us our money, but I doubt that he will be able to,” said sous chef Sean Fuller of Athens. “They owe me $900 plus my $1,000 knife sets are still inside.”
Other workers are owed between $200 to $300 and $300 to $500 for first and last week’s pay, depending on whether they served or cooked, they said.
“I am a single parent and I need to be paid,” said server Melea Adams of Athens. “If they knew they were going to close down, they should have told us.”
Owners Brenda and Danny Causey of Huntsville, who could not be reached for comment, opened the restaurant June 1. They also have a Luciano’s off Airport Road in Huntsville, which has been in business three years, that has closed, according to the employees gathered at the Athens restaurant.
Cindy Bridges, who was laid off Friday and has since found another job, said Luciano’s was her dream job.
“This was the first time I’ve gotten to work and be creative,” she said. “Cooking is my passion. I’m going through a divorce right now, so I don’t have the moral support I need. But, I looked forward to going to work here.”

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