A few hours after we reported that waves of layoffs and furloughs were hitting Boston restaurants, it has now been learned that a well-known restaurant group in New York is letting go of a huge number of workers.
According to an article from Eater NY, Union Square Hospitality Group is laying off approximately 2,000 workers, or about 80 percent of their total workforce effective immediately, and this affects more than restaurants within the group. The post mentions that the layoffs stem from what a spokesperson says is a "near complete elimination of revenue," with the staff remaining taking care of "basic corporate functions" while company executives are taking a voluntary salary reduction. (Founder Danny Meyer will donate his compensation to a relief fund.) As stated by Eater, it was announced last Friday that all of the restaurants run by Union Square Hospitality Group would shut down temporarily, including such places as Daily Provisions, Gramercy Tavern, and Union Square Cafe.
Union Square Hospitality Group has been around for approximately 35 years.
Thanks to Nichole Davis of WBZ for initially bringing this to our attention.
by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)
[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
