Domino's Franchisee Shuts Down 13 Ohio Restaurants, Informs Staff Via Text
Employees at the affected locations received layoff notices during the dinner rush, sparking concerns over final paychecks and unfulfilled customer orders.
Thirteen Domino's restaurants across Ohio were abruptly closed this month, with employees reportedly being informed of their job loss via text message during a busy dinner service. The affected stores were operated by franchisee Anthony Satterwhite, doing business as Mile High Pizza, which had reportedly encountered financial difficulties.
A spokesperson for Domino's emphasized that these closures are an isolated incident concerning a single franchisee and do not reflect the overall performance of the brand. "We are actively working to transition these stores to new ownership so that customers in the affected communities can enjoy the quality products and service they expect from Domino’s," the spokesperson stated.
The shuttered locations were situated in several Ohio communities, including Mansfield, Canal Fulton, Galion, Crestline, Ashland, Akron, Barberton, Wadsworth, and Mount Gilead. At one point last year, Satterwhite owned 25 Domino's restaurants in the state.
Employees at the affected Domino's outlets received a text message on the evening of September 4th, announcing the impending closure of all locations on September 6th. The message, according to former manager Joe Mills, asked employees to continue working through the weekend, a request that led to confusion and dismay.
"We were in the middle of our dinner rush," Mills told the Mansfield News Journal. "I was like, ‘We all just got fired.’ And that was it. Like, everyone just walked out."
Beyond the immediate job loss, impacted employees have expressed concerns about receiving their final wages. Customers who had placed orders are also reporting unfulfilled orders and a lack of refunds, as there was no staff available to process cancellations.
This situation unfolds as the pizza delivery industry faces shifting market dynamics. Domino's, which surpassed Pizza Hut to become the largest pizza-restaurant operator in the U.S. in 2017, has seen its stock decline nearly 30% year-to-date. In the second quarter, the company's U.S. same-store sales growth slowed to 0.1%, a significant drop from the 3.4% growth experienced during the same period the previous year.
Meanwhile, other major pizza chains have also announced closures and strategic shifts. Yum! Brands is selling Pizza Hut to a private-equity firm for $2.7 billion after years of lagging sales, and previously announced plans to close 250 Pizza Hut locations. Papa John's has also been closing numerous locations.