DC Restaurant Park at 14th Settles Wage Violations for $243k

The District of Columbia has secured $243,350 from a popular 14th Street restaurant and nightclub to resolve charges that it shortchanged workers on pay and benefits.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced Wednesday that Park Place Inc., which operates The Park at 14th, will pay $127,321 to 270 employees who were denied compensation and sick leave, plus $116,029 in civil penalties to the city. The company also agreed to provide retroactive sick leave to current workers.

The settlement covers allegations that the restaurant misclassified employees as independent contractors, failed to provide earned sick leave, and retaliated against workers who raised questions about pay and tips. The investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that the company violated D.C. wage and hour laws on multiple fronts, including not giving employees written notice of their pay rates, tip-sharing policies, and pay dates.

“Today, we’re putting money back in the pockets of hundreds of workers who were denied the compensation and benefits they were legally entitled to,” Schwalb said.

Park Place agreed to the settlement while disputing the allegations. It has not admitted any liability or law violations. The company also committed to operational changes to ensure future compliance with D.C. wage laws, including filing annual compliance reports to the attorney general’s office for three years.

Wage and hour disputes in the hospitality sector remain a recurring compliance risk for restaurant operators. The settlement at The Park at 14th reflects the District’s active enforcement posture under Schwalb, who has prioritized worker protection cases since taking office.