Chicago (CBS) — Employees at two Chicago-based grocery stores, Foxtrot Market and Dom's Kitchen & Market, say they received no serious warning that their jobs would suddenly disappear.
of sudden closing On Tuesday, it was announced that one of the 33 Foxtrot stores in the Chicago, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Dom areas will be closing.chain The merger was announced just six months ago.under the name Outfox Hospitality.
Hundreds of people have lost their jobs due to the closure.
Monica Perez worked at Lincoln Park Dom's, 2730 N. Halsted St. A few years ago, the entire strip mall, which housed a combination Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, Massage Envy and Performance Bicycles stores, was completely renovated. To make way for a new Dom.
Now, the store that occupied the new building has suddenly gone out of business, and Mr. Perez has lost his job.
“We just got here and it seems like everything is closing down,” Monica Perez said. “So everyone here, a lot of people are out of work right now.”
Perez and her co-workers shared their memories outside the Dom's store in Lincoln Park on Tuesday afternoon. The store was regularly crowded with people buying expensive items, showing strong prospects for the employees. Instead, all employees were blindfolded before work.
“I didn't even get a call from the coach,” Perez said. “I showed up as usual.”
Deliveries have been suspended, mobile apps have gone dark and store credit cards have been suspended. All Foxtrot and Dom account credits and member benefits have been disabled starting Tuesday.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have to inform you of the difficult decision we have had to make. After much consideration and evaluation, we regret to announce that Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market will be closed on April 23, 2024. We are pleased to announce that we will be closing our doors as of today,'' Dom's Kitchen & Market wrote in a message on its website. “We have explored many avenues to continue our operations, but despite our good faith and exhaustive efforts, we have not found a viable option.”
Customers shocked by sudden closure
Customers who see the employees every day were shaken by the sudden news.
“It's like a family here,” Amy Tanner said. “It's very sad. It's also really sad for the employees.”
Amy and Matt Tanner's nightly shopping habits have also changed.
“I'm shocked and really upset,” Amy Tanner said. “You know, we literally just come here every night to decide what we're going to have for dinner.”
A sign at the Foxtrot store at 1019 W. Lake St. read, “Today marks our final closing. Thank you for spending time with us.” A hand-painted sign next to it displayed a tombstone that read, “Rest in Peace Foxtrot.”
The Tanners were confused by the sudden closure. Dom's in Lincoln Park was open for part of the day Tuesday before all stores closed, according to social media posts.
A TikTok video from Tuesday afternoon shows two young women who appear to be working at the East Lakeview Foxtrot, only hours into their shifts, quitting their jobs even though customers were still in the store. He reported that he noticed that he was missing it. All customers were asked to leave and the store closed immediately, with a handwritten sign reading “Permanently Closed.”
Meanwhile, at River North Foxtrot, store merchandise was being carted away and stuffed into the trunks of cars. Kevin O'Brien also found himself out of a job because of a sign posted in the window of a Foxtrot store.
”“I think they could have paid a little more attention to us. I'm just sad and unemployed right now,” O'Brien said.
“We'll see if this is a reorganization or just a financial issue, we'll see what happens, but it's a little strange that they would kick everyone out and close it down,” Matt Tanner said. “It's kind of weird.”
Meanwhile, Perez and other unemployed workers were wondering what next, as their paychecks were about to end.
“I don't have a job right now,” Perez said. “Now, I have to go back and look for a job.”
