DEVASTATING! Illinois-Based Company Immediately Closes 35 Stores

The same week a wedding venue in Minnesota closed without notice or refunds, another company pulls the same crap.  This time, thousands of employees at stores in Illinois, Texas, and Washington D.C., were left jobless in seconds.  Customers were even in the stores when they closed for good!

READ MORE: Minnesota Wedding Venue Closes Without Warning or Refunds

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Business 101: Do NOT Do What Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen and Market Just Did

If you were on X (aka Twitter) this week, you probably saw posts about Foxtrot closing suddenly.  If you aren't familiar with the Chicago, Illinois area, this is a pretty high-end store that has a variety of things.  The New Consumer describes it best as an "upscale convenience store, third-wave coffee shop, and wine boutique".

Unfortunately, all of that came to a halt on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024.  While customers were in the store, news broke that Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market stores were closing for good.  Immediately.  Below is the note that was posted on social media accounts and the website for the companies.

Dear Dom’s Kitchen & Market and Foxtrot Customers,

It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you of a 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 closing their doors starting on April 23, 2024. The closure affects 2 Dom’s stores and 33 Foxtrots across Chicago, Austin, Dallas, DC areas. We explored many avenues to continue the business but found no viable option despite good faith and exhaustive efforts.

The note went on to share their "gratitude" to employees and customers.

This decision has not been made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on you, our loyal customers, as well as our dedicated team members. We want to express our sincerest gratitude for your support and patronage throughout the years. It has been our highest honor to elevate the everyday and create a remarkable shopping experience for people who love food as much as we do. It has been a privilege serving you and being a part of your everyday lives.

At least there is an apology.  This one feels a little forced and like they didn't mean it.  #justsayin

We understand that this news may come as a shock, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may cause. We genuinely appreciate your understanding during this challenging time.

Thanking again...and then they throw a few words like "loyalty" and "trust" in the mix.  Yeah, that is what you just broke, fyi.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your loyalty and trust in Dom’s and Foxtrot. It has been an honor to serve you, and we will cherish the memories we have created together. We would also like to thank our team members who have committed themselves over the years to providing a unique selection of quality foods and creating an outstanding in-store customer experience. Lastly, we would like to thank our many partners, without whom we would not have been able to build such a strong brand.

 

You can access FAQ’s below.

 

Once again, thank you for your support, and we wish you all the best in the future.

That right there is one of my biggest pet peeves of corporate America or any company that lacks the respect to speak with their employees honestly and directly about closures.  To have all of this play out with customers in the store might be the worst I've seen yet, and I've reported on a lot of businesses closing.  There is a good chance that this closure will be a real-life example discussed in a Business 101 class under "What Not To Do When You Own a Company".

Customers Witnessed The Closures Happen at Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen and Market

Dana Wexler was a customer who went to one of the stores just after the news broke and she shared what she witnessed on Facebook:

I didn’t realize foxtrot merged with doms market. I was there getting a snack when I realized the whole staff sobbing and crying. Everyone was fired at both locations and sent home at noon effective immediately. Everyone was shocked. They just put so many people out of work.

Can you imagine walking into that chaos?  You just wanted to treat yourself with a coffee or fun snack and as soon as you open the door, you just see people crying.  Not the atmosphere these stores are known to display for their customers.

Other Reactions to the Abrupt Closure of Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen and Market

A company with a lot of stores means a lot of customers and a lot of employees.  Below are a few of the reactions to the news that broke this week.

Employees Taking Action With Lawsuit Against Outfox Hospitality, Parent Company of Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen and Market

According to USAToday.com, a lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, April 24th, by Jamile Moore, one of the employees who was let go without notice.  He isn't alone as thousands of employees experienced this end with Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen and Market.  This lawsuit is seeking other class-action members and if you were impacted by this closure, learn more here.