It’s official now: Michael LaHood is a creep
She closed the store Aug. 5. LaHood was there, counting money from the profitable weekend. He didn’t say anything about a vacation, she said.
“That last weekend was an awesome weekend for us,” Maher said. “To not pay the employees for the work that we did and the money that we made him … how can you do that, and how can you use people knowing you’re not going to pay them?”
Feh. He did the same thing to his workers at the War Memorial Drive location. At this point, only a complete moron or someone desperate for a job would take a job with this guy.
If there is any justice in this world, he would be unable to get ANYONE to do business with him and he and his entire family would have to move into a homeless shelter.
Update: Regarding the question of the family relationship, this comment was posted on the PJS Website by someone in a position to know:
Michael E. Lahood of East Peoria and Countryside Banquet is the brother of Ray Lahood. The third brother is Steve Lahood. Dick Lahood of La Gondola fame is a cousin and it should be noted, a successful business man with much more integrity.
I’m not sure why it matters, except that people like to see jump to conclusions.
Tags: Leonardos, Peoria, Michael LaHood, restaurants, pizza
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
How or is he related to the congressman?
I think I heard once that they are NOT related at all.
I believe, and I might be mistaken here, but I believe Michael and Ray LaHood are brothers. Anyone know that for sure?
A LaHood in Peoria that isn’t related? I don’t believe it! But, then again, there are so many of them here that he could be a distant relative that Congressman LaHood simply doesn’t acknowledge. I’m reminded of the movie “Black Sheep.”
absolutely positively they are brothers
Maybe he thought HE was going to get the BU presidency job and would be eating a lot at Avanti’s.
Aggatuci’s? Naaah.
Leonardo’s was the king in my book.
Now I’ll have to go to Happy Joe’s in Galesburg for my Sauerkraut pizza.
This sucks.
Michael Lahood is the Black Sheep? I think someone else has been an embarrassment for longer.
Black sheep for sure! The other 2 brothers are very sucessful business and politics. It’s has been a rumor that Mike was adpoted, but it is more likely that he is just not bright and cannot function very well in the world. Look at his track record, the guy is hated by everyone in town. Anyone who does business with this fool is a fool!
Is this the guy who’s carefully developed the religious style compound off of School St in Sunnyland? Complete with the church steeple?
I love the line about “counting money from the profitable weekend.” Does this person even know what “profit” is? “Income” is not the same thing as “profit.” Just because they had strong sales for one weekend doesn’t mean the business is profitable.
Unless this person has full access to the company’s ledgers, she really can’t comment on the health (or lack thereof) of the business.
Different person, Vonster.
But I hear it’s a Republican compound.
Too many LaHouds around here. Yusefs named Joseph…it’s all so confusing….
The business was making money hands over fist, trust me, I used to work there and I saw the books. LaHood was skimming off the top for sure. He is not only shady, he is a sociopath. I wish someone with the power to do so could investigate him more thoroughly but I am afraid he has to many connection in Peoria and no one will touch him. Its unfortunate because he scammed a lot of people. Anyone who sticks up for this guy cannot be trusted.
BC: I’m noting for the record that it’s easy to make allegations behind an anonymous Internet handle. There are NO indications that Mr. LaHood did anything illegal.
But what the hell is going on here?
How can a business get away with not paying employees? Isn’t there some insurance or something that protects the payroll in the event of a larceny, absconding with funds, malfeasance?
Is this whole ugly matter behind swept under a rug?
What about those homes with clotheslines and Leonardo’s Pizza shirts accompanied by a sign “Leonardo’s hung us out to dry?”
[...] is cousin to Michael LaHood, the last owner of Leonardo’s, which went into bankruptcy and closed without paying employees. The LaGondola on Gale Avenue closed some time ago (driven out of business by the road repairs that [...]