NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- The North Olmsted Ponderosa, a popular local restaurant, closed its doors this week in the northeast Ohio area.

Employees told NewsChannel5 that they had no idea they'd be out of a job until they showed up for work.

"They called Sunday night and said not to come to work Monday," said Pete Weber, an employee. "They said they will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 16, but they never did."

Weber said he went to work Tuesday and the doors were locked. He also said he hasn't been paid since Sept. 1.

A shift manager said the owner of the location has been in financial trouble for a while and the bills were piling up.

She said he tried to sell the business but the deal fell through. She also said the landlord locked the doors because he hasn't gotten rent from the owner for several months.

Thirty people were left without a job.

A spokesman from the Ponderosa parent company said that they have disenfranchised the owner of the North Olmsted location, and they will be taking legal action to stop him from using the Ponderosa trademark.

The restaurant's owner did not return NewsChannel5's phone calls.