News story here.
The entire staff at Danville’s Red Lobster Restaurant on North Vermilion has been laid off as of Monday morning, May 13th; and the restaurant’s doors have been shut.
The following is from Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr’s Facebook page:
I was just notified by one of our local Red Lobster managers that after 31 years of serving our community, without notice, their parent company laid off the entire crew and closed the restaurant effective immediately 
This is despite the fact that they were rated number 15 out of over 600 stores for customer service & satisfaction last year. They also shuddered nearly another 120 stores without notice.
This is despite the fact that they were rated number 15 out of over 600 stores for customer service & satisfaction last year. They also shuddered nearly another 120 stores without notice.When they were taken over by Golden Gate Capital, they sold all of their actual property & started making the stores pay rent to the tune of ~$12,000. We were making enough money for the store but not the corporation.
To our local Red Lobster family, THANK YOU for serving us so well & being the place we all went to for special occasions. Our prayers are with you and we’re here to help in any way we can.
Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron stated that this is a surprise.
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AUDIO: Unfortunately, this was out of the blue. It was completely unexpected. When I saw the mayor’s announcement, it was the first I’d heard that this was going to happen.
Central Illinois Media Group will be pursuing further information.
News story here.
