The property was seized by the Maricopa County Constables Office following a court order, according to an Oct. 22 notice posted in the window of Throne’s double doors. The restaurant’s former lime green signage has been removed.
Throne Brewing & Pizza Kitchen opened in August 2021, taking over the former Pizza People Pub. When the taproom and restaurant opened, it became the third location of Throne Brewing Co. Although it has carried the same name since then, the pizza pub has transferred ownership and liquor license holders. Doajo Hicks took over the license in April.
The brewpub's closure marks the third restaurant or bar run by Hicks that has shuttered in the last four months.
A Peoria outpost of Throne operated by Hicks closed on Sept. 29 and his downtown Phoenix restaurant The Pairing Room shuttered in July after three months in business.
These closures come amid accusations from employees of unpaid wages and tips, including two former staff members who have taken Hicks to court.
Former employees have alleged they are owed anywhere between a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Two former staff members of the downtown Throne brewpub filed complaints in the U.S. District Court of Arizona in May and June.
Those suits claim unpaid wages and tips — violations of the national Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as state wage laws. These cases are still pending. Both have filed requests for default judgment against parties that include Hicks, his wife Roxanne Hicks and his businesses, citing the defendants' failure to engage in the court proceedings.
Ahead of the seizure of the downtown Throne, a county judgment was issued in favor of the landlord, Artisan Lofts on Central Retail, LLC, for more than $6,500 in rent and fees.
The restaurant owner has blamed a down economy for the closure of The Pairing Room. “Challenges faced by our Peoria location,” were cited as the reason that Throne outpost closed.
Hicks has not commented on the accusations by former employees and a request for comment on the downtown Throne's closure was not returned.
