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July 1, 2020 VIRAL BUSINESS 

Cheesecake Factory to close restaurant, layoff workers

PHOTO | Courtesy Cheesecake Factory

The coronavirus pandemic’s negative impact on the restaurant industry has prompted the Cheesecake Factory chain to close its Stamford location.

The decision impacts 104 workers with various titles, from cooks to servers to bartenders. The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice dated June 26 with the state Department of Labor.  

Sidney Greathouse, vice president of legal services for the company, indicated in the notice that business conditions suddenly deteriorated because of the COVID-19 crisis and resulting shutdown orders.

Gov. Ned Lamont in mid-March ordered non-essential businesses, including restaurants, to close due to the threat of the virus spreading. Lamont allowed outdoor dining as of May 20, and indoor dining with limited capacity as of June 17. 

“The Cheesecake Factory markets have softened over a period of several months and this is anticipated to continue,” Greathouse indicated in the notice.

As a result, the company will cease operations at its 230 Tresser Blvd., Stamford location at the close of business on Saturday, Aug. 1. The closure is expected to be permanent, with the entire restaurant to be closed, the notice states.

The restaurant’s workers were initially furloughed temporarily on March 17. However, with the closure of this location, and lack of employee bumping rights, the layoffs are permanent as of the end of Aug. 1, according to the notice. 

Alethea Rowe, a media spokesperson for the Cheesecake Factory, said Wednesday the chain's three other Connecticut locations, in West Hartford, Trumbull and Danbury, will all remain open.

In March, the chain’s management notified its landlords that it would have difficulty paying rent due to the impact of the coronavirus.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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