SHANGHAI: Yao Restaurant, which gets its fame from people believing it is connected with Chinese NBA star Yao Ming, closed last Friday, leaving dozens of unpaid, stunned employees standing around outside.

The restaurant is behind in its obligations nearly 100,000 yuan ($15,000), local media reported.

Some 17 employees of the restaurant have applied for arbitration, said a deputy chief of Jing'an District Labor and Social Security Bureau surnamed Ge. He would not give the exact amount of money involved.