Several Tim Hortons locations in New York City, upstate New York and Maine shut down with no notice this week, putting people out of work just before the holidays.
In a statement to Global News, Tim Hortons vice president of communications did not provide details of the number of locations affected or the number of jobs that went with the closures.
“As we build the foundation for accelerated growth in the U.S., we have decided to close some restaurants in New York and Maine,” Sarah Robertson said. Robertson added the company is still planning to “expand the iconic brand” south of the border.
“In line with our vision to deliver a great guest experience while building and strengthening the Tim Hortons brand, we continuously review the performance of our restaurants.”
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The reported closure of 21 locations happened so suddenly Wednesday that customers said they were told to leave.
“The place has a few people sitting eating lunch. It starts to clear out and leaves just me and my buddy left in the place,” a customer in Auburn, Maine told the Lewiston Sun-Journal.
WATCH: Tim Hortons shuts down several locations in U.S.
“The lights go out and we are told to leave because the place is now closed,” said Doug Taylor, who said he was one of the last to leave the branch.
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According to reports, six Tim Hortons outlets were shuttered in Maine and a further 15 closed their doors in the state of New York.
The closures come almost one year after Tim Hortons shareholders voted in favour of a $12.5-billion takeover bid from Burger King.
The merger formed Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the third-biggest fast food company on the planet.
Robertson said RBI would support restaurant owners “in their transition” and thanked Tim Hortons customers, staff and owners affected by the closures.
READ MORE: Goodbye Tim Hortons, hello… Restaurant Brands International
But that’s little solace to some of the people who are now out of a job.
“It’s wrong,” Talivo Salley, an employee at a Tim Hortons in Syracuse, New York, told Syracuse.com. “It shows you have no respect for your employees. Christmas is coming up.”
Salley said it didn’t seem to matter that the Tim Hortons location had good sales.
After last year’s takeover deal, Tim Hortons former chief executive Marc Ciara said: “Tim Hortons will remain an independent, iconic Canadian brand, but with significant opportunities to accelerate our brand development around the world.”
With files from Jamie Sturgeon
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