Another Business Closure Hits Charleroi: Fourth Street BBQ Shuts Down
This year, Charleroi has witnessed several major companies closing, and now Fourth Street BBQ is the latest to join the list. The restaurant chain, with multiple outlets in the region, began reducing its workforce last week, with layoffs expected to continue until the month’s end.
Mass Layoffs and Legal Scrutiny
Fourth Street Barbeque, also known as Fourth Street Foods, recently informed the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry of its intention to lay off 252 employees by the end of the month. The WARN database classifies these layoffs as a “closure,” prompting an investigation into potential violations of the WARN Act, which mandates a 60-day advance notice.
A class action law firm is examining whether the affected employees are eligible for severance and benefits. Just days before this filing, Huntington National Bank initiated a lawsuit against Fourth Street Barbecue, accusing the company of breaching its credit agreement and defaulting on loans exceeding $89 million.
Community Impact and Personal Stories
The impending closure of Fourth Street Foods is a familiar scenario for residents like Daniele Byrne. “Finding a job with good pay and benefits like we had at Corelle isn’t easy,” Byrne shared. She and her husband lost their jobs earlier this year when the Anchor Hocking Glass Factory in Charleroi shut down. Byrne mentioned the challenges of job hunting, although her husband recently secured new employment.
“Now, my husband has to travel 35 miles to Washington, whereas he used to commute just 13 miles to Charleroi,” Byrne added, highlighting the increased travel burden. She expressed concern about the future of Fourth Street Foods’ employees, many of whom lack personal transportation.
Community Concerns and Future Prospects
Byrne noted, “Many in Charleroi don’t own cars, so it was convenient to work at local places like the Corning plant or Fourth Street BBQ.” The recent closure of a nearby spaghetti plant only adds to the community’s employment challenges.
Channel 11 attempted to contact Fourth Street Foods CEO Dave Barbe for a statement, but he was unavailable for comment this week.
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