Gift Certificate Not Honored: Ripoff?

I was given a $60 gift certificate by an employee of Asian Cuisine in Algonquin some months back. It was suggested that we wait until the remodeling was completed to come in. When we did, there was a 'new owner' who refused to honor it. Can't find the employee, either. This doesn't seem right, and I'm wondering if I (or the former employee or owner) got shafted.

Nick