Social media reacts: 2 downtown Middletown restaurants close due to lack of employees

Readers reacted strongly, with over 400 comments on social media. Here are some of the responses we received:

“It is hard to blame people when they get more money by not working. Maybe people are underpaid.” - Candi Schlamersdorf

“This is going to become more common. McDonald’s on Verity is closed a lot lately because they cannot staff people.. I remember when this was by far the best McDonald’s around. But like a lot of the other comments, paying people not to work is a big issue. There are jobs everywhere. Now hiring signs everywhere. I done believe that the amount of pay is the issue, everyone has to start somewhere, it builds character.” - Jason Tindall Sr.

“Wow. Maybe we are flooded with too many businesses for pizza/subs. This is sad but I saw it coming and no one is surprised.” - Debra Shaw

“This is so sad. They did a great job and had the best pizza and service. They were definitely struggling last time we were there, but customers have to understand too. I hope they’re able to regroup and hire, and open in the future. We chose Dons over all the other pizza places!” - DeDe Strawser Vencill

“Well honestly I will say this he should’ve got better employees and nicer people that work there and not some snotty witches. You call and order in at Dons you get there and it’s still an hour wait for one pizza so yeah I can see where he went under on both places.” - Holly Meyer

“I believe a lot of these business owners are lying or exaggerating and blaming lack of employees. If you treat your employees well and pay them a decent wage, they’d come back. Also what happened to their PPP funding?” - Alysha Rhodes

“I hope some of the restaurant workers are paying attention to the “entry level workers don’t deserve a fair living wage for 40 hours” commenters. Make sure you thank them for the privilege of serving them their dinner if they sit in your section.” - Sabrina Dean

“Lack of employee’s, just dont sound right for closing. The buisness must have not been successful with clientele. Clientele, location,customer service and great food is a winner for most. I just don’t think theres enough foot traffic for downtown Middletown. Theres no draw to downtown at alll! Hopefully the broad st bash returns to help those businesses. But lack of employee’s, just dont sound right, now lack of customer’s I’d agree!” - Raw Walker

“Free money being handed out is one issue but it also is part of a capitalist economy. Strong, well run businesses will survive while others won’t. When the number of these places outnumber the amount of customers or employees available, the weak will be eliminated” - Scutt Rupp

“Yet I hear stories of people who are applying for jobs and not getting called for interviews, being turned down for lack of experience or other reasons, or being “ghosted” after interviews.” - DeJuan McGuire

“Pay a living wage and get employees. Not that hard.” - Nichole Carrier

“Downtown was the dumbest business model ever the only winner’s was and are the land owners ! You’ve been played! Everyone is competing for the same dollar and there was only .50 cents to be made!” - Kenneth Lewis

“Restaurants especially smaller ones run on very small margins and most are in debt and barely breaking even. 60% of all restaurants fail in the first year and 80% within 5. Throw in a pandemic and it is a perfect storm.” - Crystal Miller

“Most people I know who have been life long service industry folk are now finding new career paths due to how the service industry was treated during the pandemic. Being considered a “front line worker” with no hazard pay, having to deal with customers who wouldn’t wear their masks to protect us workers along with other customers, customers getting angry that orders were taking too long even though we’ve been running skeleton crews to save on labor/ employees being out due to having covid along with not being prioritized for the vaccine. It really brought to light just how undervalued people who work in restaurants are.” - Amanda Byers

“Everyone is having trouble finding employees. It’s not a pay issue.” - Kevin Carr

“Two white castles in Cincinnati close at 10pm Sunday through Wednesday cause of the same thing. Now W.C has always been 24/7 for as long as I can remember. People are just lazy now.” - Cheryl Krikket Doopleganger

“It’s interesting to see this, cause I drove by a Wendy’s and the sign had a 250 dollar sign on bonus if you got hired......must be more places suffering than we realize.” - Seth Carberry

“Hate this...loved going there.” - Gail Smith-Bowman