San Jose restaurant workers became collateral damage - San Jose Spotlight

"In statements to the media, Trigg said he was drowning in rising costs after pausing renovations on a newly purchased property he claims he later learned was historically designated. The situation cascaded dramatically - leaving Trigg and his wife and co-owner Rina to grapple with the loss of their businesses while piled in a mountain of debt and fighting to keep their home."

"The former workers said it was clear something was wrong for more than two years prior to Jtown's closure. Employees' checks were continually bouncing. Pay days were in flux. When employees asked about their pay, they said Trigg gave them one date and then another. When employees started to eye the door, they said the Triggs personally asked them not to quit despite a lack of communication about financial problems."

Jordan Trigg said he paused renovations on a newly purchased property after learning it was historically designated, saying preservationist red tape and rising costs forced Jtown Pizza's closure and left him and co-owner wife Rina with mounting debt and struggling to keep their home. Multiple former employees counter that the Triggs' broader business choices under Dipsomania made financial collapse likely regardless of designation. Former staff reported bounced paychecks, inconsistent paydays, shifting promised dates, and requests to stay despite unclear finances. Longtime workers remained loyal for roughly $30 an hour wages with benefits. Employees provided email and text records to San José Spotlight documenting problems before the September closure.

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