DC coffee shops abruptly close; employees accuse owners of union busting
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — 30 workers in D.C. are out of a job after the owners of two local coffee shops abruptly closed their doors.
Former employees at The Wydown Coffee Bar said they were only given 10 hours’ notice that the stores were closing — and they believe it’s because of their effort to unionize.
Employees told DC News Now they were sent a message at 8 p.m. on Tuesday night saying the 14th Street NW and H Street NE locations would be closed permanently.
A letter posted from the owners said, “A process that began last year has reached its conclusion. Today was the last day of service for both cafes of the Wydown, which are now closed permanently.”
Metro passengers prepare for Red Line closures
Employees said they were in shock Wednesday.
“I’m sad for everyone and I’ve barely even had time to process what I’ll have to do to find new work,” said Christopher Chandler.
Chandler was a barista at the shop on 14th Street, one of several employees who spent Wednesday afternoon picketing outside.
“It’s not right what they’re doing and just completely shutting down instead of negotiating in good faith,” Chandler said.
Workers had a scheduled vote to unionize in five days.
“To me the timing five days before our election seems pretty clear,” said former barista Tom Friedl.
“I knew that they were resistant to our union efforts but I did not think it would go this far,” said former barista Holly Constanzo. “30 people had their jobs gone like that. It was heartbreaking.”
Employees on 14th Street complained of flooding while those at the H Street location complained of no air conditioning.
“There was no air conditioning in the back for the bakery. The bakers were in what used to be a storage closet with two giant industrial ovens,” Costanzo said.
They said owners were not receptive to their concerns, including being underpaid, understaffed and overworked.
Montana Senator Steve Daines to block RFK Revitalization Bill
Friedl believed the abrupt closure was because of the union effort.
“They can say that it had to do with like the business, but like I see their sales numbers, like I see the line out the door every Saturday, every Sunday, and I see the line of people that come in every single morning on weekdays,” Friedl said.
For the now unemployed, the fight isn’t over.
“We are owed so much, they need to pay us severance and damages,” Costanzo said.
DC News Now reached out to the owners but had not received a response as of this article’s publication.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
