A beloved Shelter Island bakery might not be so sweet.
Eight employees – six women and two men – sued the owner of the cafe Marie Eiffel for sexual assault and harassment.
The lawsuit filed Friday alleges Eiffel, whose Marie Eiffel Market is a celebrity hotspot, “was routinely beaten [employees] on the buttocks, groped female workers’ breasts, choked workers and made sexual harassment, degrading discriminatory comments about their race.”
The plaintiffs are foreigners from Malaysia, Thailand, Colombia who worked for Eiffel seasonally for four months in 2021 and 2022
They are suing not only Eiffel, but also the New York-based company InterExchange, which sponsored them to work in the US, and, they say, did not act on their alleged abuse.
The lawsuit accuses Marie Eiffel, owner of the Marie Eiffel cafe on Shelter Island, of sexual assault and harassment. https://marieeiffelmarket.com/
The filing also alleges Eiffel kissed workers, withheld tips left for workers and a bruised worker after Eiffel pulled them into the kitchen.
“Marie acted as if she believed the appalling behavior was funny. On at least one occasion, Marie instructed an employee to film her hitting an employee on the back with a bunch of parsley while she laughed at the camera,” the suit alleges, citing evidence a photo allegedly shows Eiffel hitting someone with parsley.
For the past decade, daredevils and tourists alike have flocked to the Marie Eiffel Market in search of Marseille-style croissants, baguettes and bouillabaisse.
The filing alleges Eiffel hit workers with parsley. marie eiffel/ instagram
Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain have visited, and Christy Brinkley talked about it on social media after enjoying tarte tatin and pommes frites al fresco in 2020.
Michael Del Piano, a partner at the law firm that filed the lawsuit — Lewis, Johs, Avallone, LLP — said Eiffel’s actions were not limited to a few isolated incidents.
Marie Eiffel, owner of Marie Eiffel’s market on Shelter Island, is being sued for abusing workers.GoFundMe/ Save Marie Eiffel’s Market
“He engaged in a sustained campaign of appalling and exploitative behavior,” he told The Post of Eiffel’s alleged inappropriate behavior. “He preys on vulnerable people who just want to work and grow as individuals.”
Christie Brinkley is among the market’s celebrity customers. He talks about French food in 2020 on social media. Christie Brinkley/Instagram
Eiffel and InterExchange did not respond to The Post’s request for comment by press time.
On Tuesday, Eiffel denied all the allegations to the Shelter Island Reporter.
He told the outlet that he has yet to receive a lawsuit, but after learning of the claims against him, he hired an attorney. It is not clear how Eiffel heard about the suit.
Eiffel pictured with his workers at marketmarie eiffel/ instagram
Marie Eiffel Market is described on its website as “an exciting New York hotspot frequented by celebrities and casual foodies alike” and a “tourist attraction”. Eiffel also runs seasonal stores in Greenport and Montauk.Angel Chevrestt
The workers, according to the suit, paid recruiters from InterExchange more than $1,000 each to gain entry into the J-1 visa program and receive housing provided by Eiffel.
On its website, the bakery, which opened in 2013, is described as “an exciting New York hot spot frequented by celebrities and casual foodies alike.” Eiffel also operates stores in Greenport and Montauk.
He told the Shelter Island Reporter that the suit may have stemmed from an interaction he had with a disgruntled employee who he claimed stole from his home. When she confronted him, he claimed they were fighting.
Eiffel also forwarded emails to the outlet from recent foreign workers praising him.
“I’m so grateful to have you as my boss and friend,” someone said.
“I am so grateful for your support and teaching,” read another.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
