After operating for less than two months as Papa Tony’s Pizza, the former Papa John’s Pizza at 725 N. First St. closed June 29.

The renamed franchise did not pay its employees on the designated payday, June 21, former employees charge. The payroll department eventually sent the checks two days after the employees had quit. The chain later closed all 23 stores in the Chicago area.

Papa Tony’s Pizza still owes money to DeKalb employees including six drivers, three managers and one in-store worker for the June 14-27 pay period, the former employees said. That money includes $1,200 to former general manager Nicole Marts and $500 to former assistant manager Joshua Holder.

Representatives for Papa Tony’s did not return repeated calls for comment. Neither did representatives for Papa John’s.

The recent financial squabbles come in the wake of a settlement between franchise owner Antoin “Tony” Rezko and the Papa John’s Pizza franchise, according to The Daily Herald.

The article said Papa John’s Pizza terminated the franchise contract with Rezko and his 23 Chicago-area franchised locations in early May.

Marts said Papa Tony’s Pizza informed her of the franchise change that night. The next day, May 10, employees answered the phone as Papa Tony’s Pizza.

“We suddenly got a whole new product,” Marts said. “Then they put the tarps over the sign and then everything went to hell in a handbasket.”

From that moment on, Holder said, the food product decreased in value. He said they initially made the pizza sauce from water and tomato paste. After fielding complaints, Marts said they later mixed a spice mix to the pizza sauce.

“We lost our loyalty with the town with the change. We lost our loyalty to the college because our prices were the same, but our pizza wasn’t up to snuff,” Marts said.

Both Marts and Holder said the franchise has had payroll problems before. Holder said many DeKalb and Sycamore banks refused to honor Papa Tony’s checks.

“My check has bounced repeatedly in the past,” Marts said.