Imagine showing up to work and seeing a sign that says we are closed on the door, and having no idea you were no longer employed.
"I am a single mother of two and, this is very devastating... I feel very betrayed. Shocked," Said Megan Ragsdale Assistant Manager of the Decatur Ruby Tuesday that closed on Wednesday.
For employees of Ruby Tuesday that are owned by Midwest Holdings, unemployment is now harsh a reality.
"I'm still literally in my work clothes. So I showed up for work and they were like were closed, and I thought we were just closed for a day there was a gas leak or something. Then they told me no we are closed for good you don't have a job anymore," Adrianna Gilly and Employee of the Decatur store.
At the Ruby Tuesdays in Decatur alone over 50 people lost their jobs.
"Along with all of my other employees I loved everybody that I worked with. To have all of that taken away from me in the blink of an eye is very hard,” Said Ragsdale.
11 restaurants in central Illinois closed all together. Of those that closed Decatur, Effingham, Champaign Quincy, and the Mortan stores were all confirmed to have closed. Several citizens in Decatur are upset that the store is closing.
"Ruby's, I mean we are here two three times a week"
"People wonder why they don't patronize their business or we can't get new restaurants to come to Decatur I mean this is why.”
Said 2 residents of Decatur who attempted to dine at the restaurant.
The dumpsters behind the restaurant were extremely full so full that you couldn’t even close them. Employees told WAND News that they just received a shipment of food on Tuesday and since the restaurant closed so abruptly they were forced to throw all of it away.
We reached out to corporate and they issued a statements saying “Our Illinois Ruby Tuesday restaurants were owned and operated by an independent franchisee. As the franchisor of this concept, we went to great lengths in assisting the franchisee to remain open but he has made the decision to close his restaurants. We appreciate the patronage of the many residents and guests that have dined at the Illinois Ruby Tuesday restaurants over the years along with the dedicated employees of the franchisee and will evaluate opportunities to return to the market in the future.”
The owner has yet to issue and explanation. The Litchfield restaurant, which is ran by corporate, will remain open.
