Muscle Maker Founder Defends Owner Accused of Racial Discrimination

Story by Patch Editor Anthony Bellano.

The founder of the Muscle Maker Grill restaurants is defending the owner of the restaurant's Edison franchise, who is the subject of a lawsuit being filed by a former employee who accuses him of racial discrimination, nj.com reports. 

Muscle Maker Grill founder Rod Silva told nj.com all franchises are required to obey all laws, including those involving employment practices. The response came after former employee Robyn Decicco filed a lawsuit against Edison franchise owner John Marques, alleging he told her to throw all applications filed by African Americans in the trash, according to the report. 

Decicco claims she was fired after she complained to those higher up in the company about Marques, according to the report. Silva isn't named in the lawsuit. 

Silva added that the claims made in the lawsuit would be investigated internally. He also told nj.com that Marques previously hired and worked with African Americans. Marques owns and operates more than a dozen franchises, according to the report. 

Muscle Maker has 44 locations in New Jersey, including locations in Middletown, Red Bank, Freehold and Long Branch, according to the company's website. According to the report, there are 64 total locations throughout the country.