Foxtrot Chain’s Sudden Closure Leaves Employees and Customers in Shock
In a shocking turn of events, popular cafe chain Foxtrot announced its sudden closure, leaving employees blindsided and customers forced to leave the premises. The news broke on Tuesday, and within hours, employees found out that they were out of a job. TikTok user @sadkiwigirl captured the moment when she and her co-workers learned about the closure, sharing the video on the social media platform.
The employees discovered that their store would be closing at 12 pm that day, giving them less than two hours’ notice to absorb the news and come to terms with their sudden unemployment. As they filmed the TikTok video, the confusion and disbelief were evident on their faces. The employee known as Giulia reiterated the shocking reality that the entire chain was shutting down.
What made the situation even more bizarre was the fact that the cafe was packed with customers when the closure was announced. People were enjoying their coffee and working on their laptops in the dining area, completely unaware that in a matter of hours, they would be asked to leave. The video captured one customer leaving the store with the on-screen caption “Kicked out all the customers !!”
The closure of Foxtrot was not limited to one location but affected all 33 stores in Illinois, Texas, and the Washington, DC, area. The company released a statement explaining that despite their efforts, they could not find a viable option to continue the business. The closure also included two Dom’s Kitchen & Market grocery stores owned by Foxtrot.
One aspect that added to the employees’ frustration was the lack of severance offered to them. Around 1,000 staffers across several states were abruptly laid off without any form of compensation. This led to a class action lawsuit being filed against Outfox Hospitality, the entity formed after Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market merged in 2023. Attorneys representing the former employees alleged that the company violated the US Department of Labor’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires a 60-day notice for mass layoffs.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid wages, salaries, holiday pay, and vacation pay for the terminated employees. The legal representatives have also requested a jury trial to address the grievances of the affected workers. The situation has left TikTok users who viewed the viral video just as bewildered, with many suggesting legal action or questioning where the money from the busy Foxtrot chain was going.
The Foxtrot closure serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the business world and the impact it can have on employees and customers alike. The suddenness of the closure, with employees finding out just hours before their shifts ended, highlights the need for companies to handle such situations with more sensitivity and ensure compliance with labor laws. As the legal battle unfolds, former Foxtrot employees hope to find justice for their unexpected job loss and financial hardship.
