Some local blogs have criticized my coverage of the closing of Jardines Kansas City. I will make no apologies about standing on the side of the servers and against this owner. I try not to take sides in situations like that. I do not speak out against owners of restaurants. You will not find me critical of another local owner on this blog. I have been asked to intervene in the past and refused. This particular case was so egregious that I felt it necessary to provide a forum for the affected servers’ stories to be told.
If there were any doubts that this owner was fully in the wrong, I think they have all been resolved. It is no longer just the employees of the restaurant who are seeking to receive the tips that patrons left for them. Tips that the patrons would have been outraged to know were not being relinquished to the employees. Tonight, I have just received word that the situation was far worse. Last month, tour Jazz artist and major draw Dave Stephens played at Jardines. A substantial cover charge was taken at the door and collected by the club. Mr Stephens was cut a check by the owner, but it turns out she has stopped payment on the check according to this post on Mr Stephen’s facebook page:
There are two sides to this story. One side has an owner claiming that her entire staff was stealing from her and therefore she fired them all. She refuses to go on the record to say this, but has instead leaked it to local media sources. The other side is being quite reserved in their public accusations and simply asking for the tips that are owed them. I think this recent development should weigh heavily on which side you believe.
If you missed my original post on this topic, please read The Jardines Story
BillyBob
Dec 08, 2011 @ 10:29:03
The (former) servers should take the owner to court. As a good friend once told me, you don’t get anywhere being nice when the other side is doing all they can to deprive you of what’s rightfully yours. Jardine’s owner has “withheld” tips and/or wages from these servers, and that’s just a polite way of saying she stole from them. She has abused them & probably violated some labor laws. I understand it takes money to retain a lawyer, but if those former servers can put their heads together and calculate what was taken from them, they may find a lawyer who’s willing to take the case. Look at it this way: What have you got to lose? You’ve already lost your wages and/or tips. Make a statement. This story repeats itself too often in this town & the same (owners’) names keep popping up as the abusers. FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. These same abusive owners are counting on you keeping your mouths shut so they can continue abusing.
dubious
Dec 08, 2011 @ 14:53:32
uh… : http://www.kcconfidential.com/
tipsfortips
Dec 08, 2011 @ 15:09:38
That site has gotten nearly every detail they presented wrong. Hearne is wrong again. An informal tally is being conducted and the first four already exceed the $800 number she has given. There are also very detailed records of when the stop payment occured that will contradict her story. I stand by the story I have presented. There is a reason why she is only speaking to people who will simply reprint what she says. Her numbers don’t hold water and I trust that time will prove that to be the case.
SHAWN SANDERS
Dec 29, 2011 @ 11:35:03
Jardines – She’s Fired ! brand new ownership ! gonna be bigger and better than ever ! LONG LIVE JARDINE’S !! RINGING IN 2012 – DONT MISS IT !
DeHall
Dec 29, 2011 @ 12:06:28
I checked out Jardine’s Event Calendar for December and found this posted for December 31st:
“New Years celebration with Pete Cole, Chris Clark and the gang $5 cover Special menu
Beena is fired . Its a brand new year!!! Please come and welcome the new owners Robert and Joseph and carry the jazz tradition!!
7 to 1 am”
Any ideas who “Robert and Joseph” are?
Here’s the link:
http://www.jardines4jazz.com/files/calender_popup.php?jyear=2011&jmonth=12&jdate=31
SHAWN SANDERS
Dec 29, 2011 @ 15:28:26
YEP ! SHE IS FIRED ! GET READY FOR A AWESOME 2012 . CLOSE FRIEND TO ROBERT AND JOSEPH 🙂
tipsfortips
Dec 30, 2011 @ 22:22:33
My apologies. I couldn’t answer this question when you posted it because I and many other people were afraid to let the cat out of the bag. Robert and Joseph are the new owners of Jardines.
reggie hammond
Jan 02, 2012 @ 14:54:22
So my question is….is the club open or not?The website has no events on the calendar or any info about new ownership.
If people are to support the new club and ownership,shouldn’t there be some kinda fanfare,formal announcement(s) or something?
tipsfortips
Jan 07, 2012 @ 14:35:55
The question everyone is asking is if there really has been a change in ownership.
reggie hammond
Jan 11, 2012 @ 11:09:18
If anyone has any info on the staus of the club please post here.Whether it has new ownership or not.If there is a new place to go to support the staff.
Any answers would be appreciated….I just want to support the jazz and blues scene and its great musicians here in Kansas City!