Three days after Foxtrot and Dom's Market announced their sudden closures, former employees are scrambling to find work.
On Friday, several people rallied for workers' rights, believing parent company Outfox Hospitality may have violated the WARN Act. Outfox Hospitality could not be reached for comment on Friday, but a message posted on the Dom's Market website said the company had “explored many avenues to continue operating, but we are committed to doing so in good faith and thoroughly.” Despite extensive efforts, no viable option has been found.”
The fallout caused a domino effect on other small, locally owned businesses in Chicago.
“It hurts, I'm not going to lie, it really hurts,” said Corey Kaplan, owner of Corey's Bagels. ”
Kaplan supplied Dom's Market daily. He first realized something was wrong on Sunday when he didn't receive his order form from Dom's.
“I returned at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning to see if anything had happened. When I returned around 11 a.m., the door was locked,” Kaplan said. It literally happened and no one knew about it and neither did management. ”
Dom's and Foxtrot were closed indefinitely that day.
“I'm still trying to absorb it,” he said. “I think there's more to this story.”
Dom's was the bagel shop's biggest customer. At least $10,000 has now been paid, but Kaplan said no more will be paid.
He also said he wasn't alone in feeling the sudden hit to his business.
“This is having a very big impact on so many people,” Kaplan told NBC 5.
And while Dom's and Foxtrot have disappeared, many of the products sold in the stores have not. Kaplan hopes customers will visit the brick-and-mortar store in Chicago that originally supplied grocery stores.
“Where are the people who go to get Corey's bagels now? I hope they come here,” he said outside his Old Town store, where it has been for 23 years. “Please come and meet the people who frequented that store. Please patronize the little guy who helped you buy your muffins, coffee, cookies, and cakes.”
