PITTSBURGH,None — An employee of a South Side restaurant called Target 11 to claim that the business has been shut down for the second time in as many months.
The woman said Tusca has been shut down for more than a week, and workers haven't received their paychecks.
Employees were reportedly informed that the restaurant would close temporarily and reopen under a new name and ownership. The woman said employees were told they would receive a paycheck on Wednesday, but never did.
On May 10, the Health Department shut the restaurant, located in South Side Works, down after inspectors found five dead mice and 1,180 mouse droppings inside the eatery.
Two days later Tusca reopened, but customers said the bad publicity was enough to keep them away.
"People told me that they've seen mice too, actually seen them. So after they closed I was scared I was going to see a mouse," said Amanda Tylka.
"I would expect, for what you're paying for food there, that they're keeping things clean. If that's not the case then there's really no point in going," Brian Taylor said.
Channel 11's Robin Taylor tried contacting owner, Richard Davis, but was unable to reach him. When the restaurant was shut down in May, he told Taylor that the restaurant was having some money problems.
One employee said, "Before the mice…, we were getting by. After the mice, it hit really hard."
• Email Newsletter: Get The Latest News Sent To Your Email! • Mobile: Get WPXI Headlines On Your Phone, iPhone, More • RSS: Add Us To Your Page!