Northgate Mall Massage Heights employees Morgan Leiper, left, and Tara Reed and Reed's 1-year-old son talk Wednesday about the massage studio's sudden closure.Employees of Massage Heights at Northgate mall who were out more than two weeks' pay when the franchise massage studio closed without warning Dec. 6 will get "grants" of $500, each, from the Massage Heights Family Fund.
"Everyone got one. It isn't our full amount paycheck that we would have received but it is a big help," said Morgan Leiper, who worked the front desk as a lifestyle consultant at the Northgate Massage Heights.
Leiper said the business's roughly 15 employees learned of the closure the night before it happened through the massage studio's Facebook group.
Established in the fall of 2013, the family fund says it provides financial relief and assistance to Massage Heights employees and their families in times of need, including funeral expenses, temporary housing required due to catastrophe and for unforeseen medical expenses.
The Massage Heights at Northgate mall closed December 6. Its owners owe the mall five month's rent, or $38,408, court documents say.Several franchise owners around the country have stepped up to raise additional funds to help, said San Antonio- based Massage Heights Franchising in a news release.
While the family fund could help, Massage Heights Franchising couldn't compensate the Northgate mall employees for their lost wages, the company said.
Payroll was the responsibility of Andrew and Christina Krieger, the franchisees who co-owned the Northgate Massage Heights. The Kriegers, who filed for divorce in January and live in separate apartments, were five months behind on their $7,675 monthly rent to the mall and owe it a total of $38,408 in unpaid rent and other costs, according to Hamilton County General Sessions Court documents.
The massage studio's group disappeared from Facebook soon after the closure was announced, she said, and so did the Krieger's personal profiles.
"We will probably never hear from Andrew and Christina again," Leiper said.
Customers were able to use their credits and gift cards at the Massage Heights on Gunbarrel Road, which has a different owner.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.face book.com/MeetsForBusiness or on Twitter @meetforbusiness or 423-757-6651.