Paul Bass Photo
Twenty-five people got booted from their jobs on Memorial Day with only four days’ notice, as Au Bon Pain served its last muffin at the crossroads of Broadway and York and Elm streets.
The busy chain outlet restaurant — popularly referred to as “ABP” — closed for good at 2 p.m. Monday.
Workers said they were “pissed” that they had learned of the closing and their layoffs only on Thursday.
“I’m pretty pissed. They gave us only three days to find another job,” said staffer Joshua Fowler (pictured), who said he doesn’t yet have another job.
“We have a lot of angry customers,” said Rich Gattison, a 32-year-old New Havener. “I’ve been in this store for over eight years. I started out making sandwiches. They made me a manager.”
Gattison said he may be able to find work with Bruegger’s Bagels or Buffalo Wild Wings. “I’ve got a couple of offers,” he said. “I’ve got to take some time. I know this happens in the business; it’s different when it happens to you. If i was to leave I would have to give more than weeks notice.”
Yale wanted to clear the space to improve the building, and it has a similar kind of restaurant opening across Elm Street, said university spokeswoman Elizabeth Stauderman.
She issued the following statement from Yale:
“Yale chose to not renew the lease so that necessary upgrades could be made to the space in which Au Bon Pain is currently located. University Properties is also working on a new, similarly priced and locally-owned cafe restaurant, called Maison Mathis, which is currently under construction across the street at 304 Elm. Maison Mathis should open within 60 days and will feature sandwiches, Belgian waffles, chocolates, and other food. So, current ABP customers from Yale and New Haven will have a similar dining option in the area.”
The owners of the new joint also own Rudy’s. The owners, Omer Ipek and Skel Islamaj, invited Au Bon Pain employees to apply to them for work. They issued this statement through Yale:
“As local business owners of Rudy’s on Chapel Street and the soon to open Maison Mathis Belgian Bakery Cafe on Elm Street, we always seek to support the community by giving New Haven residents first consideration for employment in our establishments. Our success is dependent upon a strong local economy and we invite all the employees currently working with the Au Bon Pain on Broadway to contact us to apply to be considered for a team member position at either of our establishments. We are very excited about our new venture, Maison Mathis, and look forward to hiring local as part of of our commitment to New Haven.”
A senior manager at Au Bon Pain said the company would not allow any formal comment. Spokespeople for Au Bon Pain did not respond to a request for comment; a spokeswoman for the parent company, Compass Group, referred questions to the Au Bon Pain division.
Meanwhile, Sullivan’s On Chapel — the revived former Kavanagh’s Irish-American-themed dining and drinking establishment on Chapel Street between York and Park — plans to close in two weeks.
“Yes it is true. Sullivan’s On Chapel is closing on Saturday, June 8. Dean is retiring!!!!!!” reports the restaurant’s Facebook page. (More here.)
The message referred to Dean Digioia, who has managed the restaurant for 10 years.