Has Flatbread closed?
Walked by this evening and it was chained up, are they done for?
Posted Nov 19, 2021, 1:38 AM UTC
1514
Yeah they had a sign on the door with something to the effect of, “due to slow business we have closed down”…but according to Google they’re still open. Tried calling and it went straight to a full mailbox ¯_(ツ)_/¯
5
Aw that's a bummer
3
This isn't surprising. I tried to eat there over the summer and was told that they were only doing takeout that night due to staffing issues. Too bad because I like it there. I tried going there one night recently and they were closed, but I assumed it was just for that night.
2
from https://americanflatbread.com/locations/salem-ma/:
Have they tried paying more or offering better benefits?
They don't seem to be complaining, just saying that it made more sense to shutter for a time.
No one wants to work in hospitality anymore. I run a pizza chain, and people are asking $20+ per hour to deliver pizzas. No one is going to pay enough for pizza to cover that, so unless something changes the business model is shot.
I agree that the restaurant business model is broken and has been for a while. We can't as a society expect people to subsist on poverty wages without benefits to keep restaurants afloat.
I know for a fact that I’m not alone in being fine with a food/delivery price increase if it means everyone gets paid what their time is actually worth.
I've come to terms with an increase in cost of products to support the convenience of restaurants...
I'm assuming an average increase in food costs of $3-5 across the board at most places and more at higher priced places.
Our food costs have increased by 30%, gas and electric by 15%, and labor has increased by 25% in the past year. All things considered, restaurants need to charge 20%-30% more than last year just to remain profitable.
Most places are running at cost, or at a slight loss right now just to keep a steady customer base in the hopes things improve soon.
Odd timing since the restrictions in place from the Salem Board of Health were lifted the week before this closing.