By Dayton wine fan

November 4, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this

By the comments I hear about the manager in Columbus, he must be now managing the new Wine Loft at the Greene. As avid wine drinkers and owners of a business in Beavercreek, we will never step foot in the Wine Loft at the Greene again. This store is under terrible management. Competition is way too close to have not given the best customer service possible by management when a problem occured. Many other places to go for a glass of good wine..

By Dixie Normous

November 2, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this

How do I get an invite to the grand opening? I have been wanting to check this place out!

By Wine loft is nice!

October 25, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this

The Grand opening is invite only so come protest all you want, it’s not really affecting the store at all which is quite hilarious. Gas is pretty expensive these days and these people want to throw away their money to drive from Dublin to Dayton? and for nothing? Sounds pretty stupid to me. AND the Wine Loft is great for parties and gatherings that you cannot have at Arrow Wine plus they have Delicous FOOD and Desserts that you cannot get at the sterile wine stores.

By not quite

September 30, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this

It’s important to note that the Wine Loft Corporation DOES make a substantial profit from the franchisee. A lot of the money spent in the Dayton location WILL end up in Jason Doyle’s pockets.

By Gosh

September 30, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

I totally understand the predicament of the Dublin employees and their anger… BUT… and this is important… this location is owned by a DIFFERENT franchisee. The only person you hurt is Jeff, the owner of the new Wine Loft at The Greene. Do you think that you’ll really hurt the corporate entity? Not really. So when you protest a family starting their own business which is completely unrelated to the franchisee owner in Dublin, just realize you’re taking food off the table of an innocent family. Great job, protesters! Very effective at collateral damage. Smart, very smart.

By doesn't matter

September 30, 2009 1:01 AM | Link to this

just a word to “mk”…there was a famous monarch that once remarked when informed that her citizens were starving “if they have no bread, then let them eat cake”. You obviously have no clue, so go ahead and sip away, But next time you leave a comment, try to say something that makes you sound like a human being.

By attytim

September 30, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this

The Dublin Wine Loft was a beautiful building, with a terrific staff of passionate wine enthusiasts. All who believed in the company and worked hard to make it succeed. Unfortunately, the place was horribly mis-managed from the start. Then Vince took over, and did a terrific job. Due to lack of working capital, he was forced to try to operate with a wine cellar that was usually missing 50 percent of the wines on the wine list. He wasn’t even allowed to buy printer cartridges in order to print accurate daily wine lists. Then Doyle and his cronnies took over the place, convinced Vince to quit a well-paying job to run the place, and proceeded to screw him, and the rest of the staff out of money they worked hard for. This kind of behavior should be criminal. There are people who worked for that place that have been evicted from their homes over this, had their credit damaged because they couldn’t pay bills, etc. Anybody who takes a callous stance against these employees who were wronged should think how they would feel to show up at their place of employment and discover they were jobless AND not going to be receiving the pay they had already worked for. Most of the employees have desperately attempted to reach Doyle or anybody who can pay them or answer their questions. I don’t blame them for wanting to protest the Dayton Wine Loft. Its the only legitimate way they can have their case heard. One more thing. No, it is NOT the fault of the Dayton store, nor should it be their problem. However, I have not yet heard or seen the Dayton owners stepping up to the plate and demanding that Doyle take care of his unfinished business in Dublin. In this case, silence is the same as joining Doyle. You’ll get to see the happy couple at the grand opening shaking hands like friends, while the screwed-over Dublin employees peacefully remind you that there is a dark side to this company that isn’t necessarily needed in your community.

By wineloft sucks

September 29, 2009 9:27 PM | Link to this

The Wine Loft should payeveryone there money. Vincent Ruffo was a great manager and alwaysmade sure everyone received there pay whenthey were supposed to. every one is talking about how bad the franchisee did. Well at least they paid the workers on time and every week unlike Jason Doyle who has plenty of money. I would do what ever it took to make sure that dayton store does not open if I was owed money. Also how about the russians that few here to work for jason doyle and who are now jobless and about to be living on the streets. I hope jason doyle loses everything, and ends up living in a box on the side of the road

By BB

September 29, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

Those employees deserve every cent they are owed. Obviously there isn’t going to be a huge protest with 10 employees outside of another branch especially on private property, but to say put a cork in it and that they are winers is very selfish. With the economy the way it is every little bit counts. How would you like it if you didn’t get paid from your job? And for the one who said claim unemployment or get a new job you are obviously not very smart considering unemployment doesn’t just get handed to you these days and neither does a new job. Bottom Line…The money is deserved and was earned by those employees!!!

By No one that matters

September 29, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

Sounds like the Doyle Restuarant Group, Franchisor of The Wine Loft, has more issues than just paying the employees who worked so hard to try and make the Dublin location sucsessful. Public Information Gais Construction, Inc. v. Doyle Restaurant Group et al Plaintiff: Gais Construction, Inc. Defendant: Doyle Restaurant Group and Jason Doyle Case Number: 3:2008cv00406 Filed: September 2, 2008 Court: North Carolina Western District Court Office: Contract: Other Office [ Court Info ] County: Mecklenburg Presiding Judge: Chief Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Carl Horn III Nature of Suit: Contract - Other Contract Cause: Federal Question Jurisdiction: Federal Question Jury Demanded By: Diversity-Breach of Contract Amount Demanded: $251,000,000.00 Plaintiff: Copeland Communications , LLC Defendant: Doyle Restaurant Group, Inc. and Doyle Restaurant Group Franchise Company, LLC Case Number: 2:2008cv01084 Filed: June 19, 2008 Court: Alabama Northern District Court Office: Contract: Other Office [ Court Info ] County: Jefferson Presiding Judge: Judge William M Acker Jr Nature of Suit: Contract - Other Contract Cause: Diversity Jurisdiction: Diversity Jury Demanded By: 28:1441 Petition For Removal—Other Contract

By cmpw

September 28, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

urban dweller, you are absolutely right, there are better ways of handling this. What my comment was about was that someone had earlier said that it was sour grapes and I was asking the person to put themselves in their shoes, how would they feel. I’ve been in similar situations. I was yelling at my former employer I was so upset. People that get stuck like that tend to be in a situation where they need the money right now and can’t afford legal counseling, so what do you do? Anything you can think of. No the people that own this one have nothing to do with it, they’re just trying to get attention to what’s going on.

By Emma

September 28, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this

I truley feel for all of those who lost their jobs in Columbus. However, the economy is so bad in Dayton that we should support every new buisness that comes to the area and gives some of our unemployed jobs. The owners of this franchise should be aplauded for bringing buisness to our troubled area. I am sure this problem will be resolved but, shame on the people who would want to ruin a buisness opening. Grow up.

By lucifer sam

September 28, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

I would invite the former employees in for a drink on the house and let them air their grievances. They’re just working stiffs who got stiffed at work. Let’s have some compassion.

By Jennifer

September 28, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

Spoiling someone else’s grand opening just because their store location has the same name as the one where they worked and got stiffed does not make this right. Attack the company, attack the old owner, but don’t make someone else’s franchise suffer and make them lose money and THEIR employees lose money. This anger is misdirected.

By UrbanDweller

September 28, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this

cmpw, if I were the employees, I would file suit against the parent company. If they took over the place from the franchise owner then they were ultimately the last ones responsible for paying those employees. What I WOULD NOT DO is protest at another location that has absolutely nothing to do with it.

By papagino

September 28, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this

Annie, “So what if the owners never had anything to do with the Dublin location”??? Man, I try never to call names except when warranted.. YOU’RE AN IDIOT! Using your logic, it would be okay for the Dublin employees to protest at your house and expect wages.

By Angela Davis

September 28, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

POWER TO THE PURPLE!

By troyohio

September 28, 2009 11:14 AM | Link to this

on the serious issue of employees not being paid, I am a business conservative and would support a policy where the state would make immediate payment to the stiffed employees, and then have the AG go after the employer just as they go after unpaid taxes, etc.

By Private Property

September 28, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this

MK, The Greene is not all “private property.” The streets running through it are City of Beavercreek streets, hence the “real” police patrols and city approval before shutting them down for events. If these protesters want to display at The Greene, they’ll have every right. But I do agree that they’re picking the wrong venue. Jeff and Jill have nothing to do with the corporate decisions in Dublin.

By Love Dayton

September 28, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

Sour grapes? Not paying employees is against OH employment law. How about supporting Wine Gallery on Third & Wayne? No need to shop the suburbs for great wine.

By wine-o

September 28, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this

The callous and totally misinformed comments I am reading above prompted this post. The Wine Loft Dublin was a disaster from the start. The Franchisee had no experience running a wine bar, knew nothing about wine, and I question if they knew anything of running a business at all. They blew all of their funds on construction leaving nothing for day to day operation, and then expected the Dublin crowd to pay $14 a glass for what was $12 a bottle at Kroger and even WalMart. When things went south in a hurry they dumped everything on Vince who put everything he had in trying to keep that place afloat including running the books, floor, bar and kitchen because even though his “salary” for 70 hr work weeks was a joke at best they could not afford another manager. He was let go due to lack of funds, though I am amazed he stayed as long as he did considering they were on a cash only basis with every distributor. After the Wine Loft Company stepped in and bought back the franchise Vince was asked to come back as manager, but by this time it was too late and too little funds coming in. The guy deserves every penny for trying to make a go of what was obviously a horrible decision on the part of Wine Loft. You should be ashamed for assuming it is employee sour grapes and that it is somehow their fault. They earned it- pay up.

By Grandma Sue

September 28, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this

I find it interesting that the former employees (who would be eligible for unemployment benefits) have enough time to drive 60 miles to protest their lack of payment for the final two weeks. Wouldn’t common sense dictate that they spend the time looking for a new source of permanent income (i.e. “job”) rather than trying to disrupt an unrelated location? This of attitude on those employees behalf is likely what lead to the other franchise closing down.

By Gen X

September 28, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

Why would I go to this new wine bar when I could go to one of the two Arrow Wine locations or a number of Wine and Beer stores in the area? Do we really need another one? The employees of the new Wine Loft may not want to get too comfortable if they are willing to close Dublin like that. They won’t think twice about The Greene if it does not perform. Arrow pays their employees. I am staying loyal to them.

By cmpw

September 28, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this

Lucy, how would you like it if the company you or your husband worked for closed up and didn’t pay you? I’ve been in a similar situation. Those people really need their money, and they should be payed without any hold up! It’s not necessarily right to protest another branch that has nothing to do with it, but to tell them to put a cork in it. Put yourself in their shoes, what would you do?

By NO Annie

September 28, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

I think we will have to call Judge Rose and him that his “best buddy” is unwisely throwing his name around. Neither he, nor you (especially you) can hold a franchisee responsible for the actions of a franchisor. Now stop pretending you matter, Annie. I swear, everyone in Dayton thinks they are the social elite.

By Lucy

September 28, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this

Sounds like sour grapes to me. They should just put a cork in it.

By Annie

September 28, 2009 8:16 AM | Link to this

Call my best buddy Judge Rose and he will make that place close down until they get their money. That wine could be Italian. So what if the owners never had anything to do with the Dublin location, Judge Rose will help ya.

By FordTough

September 28, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this

Whut the H is alla dis ‘bout a whine bar.

By nyc

September 28, 2009 8:01 AM | Link to this

we will sell no wine…before its time……

By mk

September 28, 2009 7:56 AM | Link to this

Pretty sure the protest won’t be AT the Greene, it’s private property and I don’t think we will even notice as we are sipping our vino.

By Julius Caesar

September 28, 2009 7:47 AM | Link to this

A bunch of Winers!