u/phillyscumbagel

If you’re excited for Peabody to FINALLY be opening up, don’t expect it to last long...

GLU hospitality opened it last year and abruptly shut down because they have an investigation with the department of labor for wage theft, they have multiple liens against them from the city for taxes, and judgements / lawsuits against them from landlords and investors. In an article Derek Gibbons said “new investors” took over, but was caught months later operating it because of employees filing complaints about not being paid. Former employees claim Derek Gibbons and Tommy Brunton allegedly transferred venues to Garis Eddington in an attempt to hide assets from creditors. Garis says he has no affiliation to GLU but refuses to explain how he took over numerous GLU venues (during multiple active lawsuits) or answer if Tommy and Derek are still involved with the business. He opened Tailgate a month ago and multiple employees have already filed new complaints with the Department of Labor about wage theft. If Garis can’t publicly explain how he acquired these venues or who’s involved it will most likely get shut down from pure incompetence on top of all the other shady stuff behind the scenes.
Phillyscumbagels on Instagram.

Look, Kory Aversa was the PR wizard for GLU Hospitality and, credit where it’s due, the man could make viral videos like it was his superpower. Those heavily edited clips? Chef’s kiss. We’re not even mad that the company allegedly used those posts to help sell the dream while allegedly robbing half of Philly blind. Not really his fault.

https://www.inquirer.com/food/glu-hospitality-philadelphia-bagels-20221222.html

Dude had a job and he cooked.

But here’s where it gets weird.

Derek Gibbons used to always brag that Kory was obsessed with him and would do anything he asked. Employees threatening to go to the media? Derek would make it clear he can get it swept under the rug. Classic “I have the PR guy on speed dial” energy.

We get it — influencers aren’t exactly known for their unbreakable moral compasses (shoutout to every Bagels & Co. shill who’s calling rubbery bagels and burnt coffee beans “life-changing”). So when employees had to start a petition just to get their bounced paychecks, we didn’t expect Kory to ride in like Captain Justice.

https://www.coworker.org/petitions/demand-fair-compensation-for-all-workers-at-glu-hospitality

When the Philadelphia Inquirer dropped numerous stories about unpaid taxes, landlords, and running venues without liquor licenses? Crickets. Expected.

https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/1225-raw-sushi-restaurant-closure-department-revenue-20241230.html?utm_medium=referral

https://www.inquirer.com/food/glu-hospitality-figo-izakaya-chika-liquor-licenses-20250204.html

Even when Derek dissolved GLU Hospitality last year, ghosted ~18 businesses overnight, and left employees, investors, and creditors holding the bag… silence.

https://www.inquirer.com/food/glu-hospitality-closed-figo-izakaya-chika-tim-lu-derek-gibbons-20250319.html

The article even says Tim Lu wasn’t the CEO for a year before shutting down. Why don’t you ask Derek who was?

When Derek immediately turned around, raised $5 million for Bagels & Co. months after “dissolving”, then another $5 million this January, while still owing a mountain of old debts? More silence. He says he dissolved GLU because they “expanded too quickly” but then hits the ground running to open more Bagels & Co locations. Which… was under the GLU umbrella.

Weird that only Derek Gibbons, Tommy Brunton, and his college buddy Mike Marsh walked away with that piece of the business. As far as anyone knows, Derek gave it to his buddies for free. If any of this is not true PLEASE USE YOUR PLATFORM TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2074080/000207408025000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2074080/000207408026000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml

Nobody was holding their breath waiting for Kory to play hero. Until… Almost Home in Old City shut down.
Suddenly Kory drops a video acting like this was the one shutdown too far.

https://www.tiktok.com/@phillypublicist/video/7635328515843329294

He’s vaguely talking about a “partner who got pushed out” and how he’s been working hard to pay back vendors.

Bro. Come on.
Derek Gibbons wasn’t “pushed out.” He and Tim Lu allegedly split the assets like it was a divorce where both sides kept the good silverware but then they sent the kids (all the creditors) to an abusive foster home. Derek walked away with Peabody, Figo (Now Tailgate Sportsbar), and Bagels & Co. (the better end of the deal, by most accounts). But sure, let’s call it “being pushed out.”

And that whole “we’re slowly paying vendors” victory lap? Which vendors exactly? Because our DMs are full of victims who are still owed money — employees with bounced checks who were getting eviction notices while Derek allegedly sent arrogant texts in response at the time. People who lost everything when locations got stripped for parts.

Kory, if you’re really about helping victims:
• Why only this one shutdown gets the public service announcement?
• Why not post the full list of who’s actually getting paid or how all the other victims can get on your fast track list of getting paid?
• Why not look at the responses to this post, or open your DMs to all the people Derek still owes and actually try to make it right? Hell you don’t even need the DMs. Just check the court records.
• And if Derek is truly the victim here and Tim Lu is the big bad criminal… use your platform. Tell his side. Let him clear his name publicly instead of just whispering it in back channels so he can slither his way back to scamming innocent people. I guarantee he will have an excuse for why he can NOT say anything publicly that he’s telling you privately. Because what he’s telling you are lies.
• While you’re at it, Tailgate Sportsbar has a media day this Thursday, May 28, 6-7:30. Ask them if Tommy Brunton and Derek Gibbons are still involved. And if not, ask how they were able to steal Figo(formerly Figo) during multiple active lawsuits and Derek has provided no paperwork on the transaction. If Derek isn’t hiding anything why can he never provide paperwork or proof of his claims? Ask for proof because even Garis Eddington, the new owner of Tailgate Sportsbar said he’d LOVE to answer anyone’s questions about it. (He just hasn’t answered any).

We’ve all heard Derek’s version. There’s a mountain of court records, lawsuits (many marked “undeliverable” because he’s allegedly dodging service), and burned people who tell a very different story than the one you’re trying to portray of him.

At this point it’s simple: either go all-in and actually use your influence to help the ALL of victims who’ve been waiting for years… or go back to posting pretty food pics and stay quiet about Derek Gibbons or other GLU hospitality crooks. Stop helping one of the biggest alleged hospitality scammers in Philly walk away clean while he keeps expanding with what a lot of people believe is other people’s money. We are willing to hear your answer. But if you chose to stay quiet, we’re sure all the creditors who have judgements against Derek may want to send you a subpoena to ask why you are *allegedly* inserting yourself to pay the people you’ve deemed “more important” to get paid before the ones who’ve gone through the court system and won.

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We’d love to be proven wrong. Ball’s in your court, Kory.