Maitland has emptied another restaurant – leaving 25 staff suddenly without jobs – just as the festive season kicks into high gear.
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Employees at Jaspers Bar and Grill, which until recently was called Teak Neighborhood Grill, said they found out they were unemployed through an email their general manager sent to them Monday evening.
The email came a day after employees were told the restaurant would be closed on Mondays, and only on Mondays, because that was the slowest night of the week.
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“We were all super confused and extremely pissed off,” server Chelsea Proenza said. “I am a mother of four. This is our livelihood. I have to work.”
It was a rollercoaster moment for Proenza and her colleagues. Weeks earlier, Maitland celebrated the restaurant's sale and renaming by its new owners, who promised to give the business a new face.
Teak faced declining sales, employees said, recalling being hopeful about the changes, including breakfast on weekends.
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Most importantly, workers said they were told their jobs were safe.
“I kind of jumped into it, and I was actually trying to get other people to have confidence in it,” Hayle Silva said.
WFTV reached out to the owners in Sumter County through their other restaurants but did not receive a response. The email sent to employees stated that the owners lost confidence in the company and considered it no longer viable.
Employees also said Christmas parties were planned that had to be canceled.
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“They just gave up hope and went back to The Villages,” Stacey Rodriguez said. “I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be heartbroken if they lost their job two weeks before Christmas, especially if you have younger children.”
Rodriguez said she did odd jobs to get through the holidays.
All three said they appreciated the community's support and hoped to receive their final paychecks before the end of the week.
“Be careful who you work for,” Rodriguez said. “Not everyone cares if they put you in a situation where you're struggling.”
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