Baristas had to kick customers out of coffee chain when it announced it was closing all locations and they were told they were ‘losing our jobs’

Baristas have been forced to kick customers out of cafes in dramatic scenes after their coffee chain announced it would close all locations with immediate effect.

Customers and employees were shocked after Foxtrot, an upscale coffee shop and convenience store, announced Tuesday that it would permanently close all U.S. locations.

‘Discovered two hours before that our company was closing nationwide!!!’ wrote a barista in the caption of a TikTok video showing how it unfolded in her cafe. “Does anyone know how to file for unemployment???”

The video documents two baristas reacting to the news before having just hours to close the shop, lock out customers and leave mid-shift.

“What are we going to tell them?” says one employee, looking at customers waiting at tables, while another says, “I want to call my dad.”

The TikToker filmed herself sadly pouring the last latte she would make for the chain into a takeaway cup before walking to the empty store.

“Kicked out all the customers,” she said, showing rows of abandoned tables and chairs. The baristas then toast their ‘last day’ with two purple-colored drinks.

Founded in 2014 in Chicago, Foxtrot had 33 locations in the Chicago, Austin, Dallas and Washington DC areas.

News of the closure came less than six months after Foxtrot announced a merger with Dom’s Kitchen & Market, a boutique store with two locations in Chicago. The Washington Post reported.

In a message posted to the company’s social media channels and website on Tuesday, Foxtrot said it had “explored many options to continue operating the business, but despite good faith and exhaustive efforts, had not found a viable option.”

Foxtrot’s website also appears to have disappeared – an error message appeared on Wednesday.

Foxtrot started as a luxury food and alcoholic beverage delivery service a decade ago — before opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Chicago in 2016.

The stores offered delivery and collection on demand, or customers could shop in-store for gourmet ‘pantry essentials’ and carefully selected wines, spirits and beers, or pick up a coffee, pastry or ready-made meal.

Its business boomed during the pandemic and in 2022 the company announced it had raised $160 million in funding, according to a company press release.

In a statement announcing the closures, the company said: “This decision was not made lightly and we understand the impact it will have on you, our loyal customers, and on our dedicated team members.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks for your support and support over the years.

“We understand that this news may come as a shock and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The company confirmed that from April 23, all deliveries and store credits would also no longer be available to customers.

Account credits and member benefits would also disappear, according to Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market.

Baristas were formally notified around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday that it was their last day on the job, according to an email and FAQ reviewed by The Washington Post.

They were told they would only be paid for services until the end of April 23, and that their health benefits would end in a week, the report stated.

A worker in Chicago, Julia Harlos, posted a video on TikTok announcing her shock at the sudden closure.

“We just found out that our store closes at 12 today,” she said in the newspaper video.

‘And by closing I mean that the entire chain comes to a standstill. And I still have three hours left in my shift.”

She turns the camera to show customers sitting in the store drinking coffee and working on their laptops. “What are we going to tell them?” she said.

At a location in downtown Washington DC, a sign hung in the window that read: “As of today, we are closed for the last time. Thank you for the time we had together,” The Washington Post reported.

It comes amid a slew of store closures across the U.S. as companies battle rising costs, stubborn inflation and surging demand for e-commerce.

US retailers closed a total of almost 5,500 stores in 2023, with major brands such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Walgreens and Rite Aid leading the way.

The closures affected a range of sectors, from clothing stores and grocery retailers to discount stores and drugstores.

The total number of closures in 2023 was 5,463, according to the latest estimates from consultancy Coresight Research. That is an increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year.