Employees of former Ann Arbor Big Boys say closings were devastating
Jesse Garrett wonders how Tom, a regular at the Zeeb Road Big Boy, is faring since the restaurant closed in August.
Mary Rossettie is still looking for another job.
Candie Morgel is moving to Tennessee.
And Cassie Finnis looks back with anger, but is thankful she persuaded another Big Boy owner to hire her as a waitress.
They’re among the estimated 75 workers, both full- and part-time, who lost their jobs this summer when the two Big Boys were shut down within a month.
They describe the experience as devastating.
“I think it’s horrendous that all of these people got put out of work,” Garrett said.
She and other former employees gathered recently to compare their experiences and raise questions about why owners Sam and Nabil Berry wouldn’t disclose their pending evictions - leaving dozens of workers scrambling to find new jobs and replace suddenly lost income.
“They had no regard for anyone but themselves. You don’t just stop paying your bills and let people who depend on you (think things are fine),” Finnis said. “It wasn’t just them affected.”
Sam Berry didn’t return a call seeking comment for this story. But the Big Boy closings continue to play out in court, where documents show claims of unpaid royalty fees, unpaid rent and unpaid bank loans. And in those documents, the Berrys claim they were mistreated by Big Boy Inc. due to their Middle Eastern heritage.
There were signs of trouble starting in the spring at the Lohr store, located near Ann Arbor-Saline Road and I-94, said long-time manager Janiga.
“I was there where they were served (eviction) papers, but they kept saying everything was going to be OK,” Janiga said.
The store didn’t open on July 22, when police and the building’s owner formalized the eviction as employees showed up for work at 6 a.m.
At the Zeeb store, just north of I-94 - where an eviction notice was posted, but ignored by some staff and customers - business continued as usual until Aug. 9. That day, the store closed an hour early as trucks of people descended upon the store. Employees - some who had asked point-blank that day if they should come to work on Monday - were told the crews were there for cleaning.
“They said no, everything was fine here,” said Michelle Beckett of Chelsea, a manager.
By next morning, the restaurant “had been ransacked,” according to the building owner, with all fixtures - including the rooftop air conditioner - removed. And customers were calling employees to find out what was going on.
The employees are still sorting out the signs of trouble at the restaurants. But their priority since the closings has been searching for new jobs in a difficult economy. Initial attempts to file for unemployment raised questions about whether unemployment taxes had been paid.
Many former employees asked for jobs at other Big Boys in the area, where some have been hired.
“Nobody had any room - nobody was hiring,” Finnis said.
But she describes herself as fortunate - especially since she just bought a house after a difficult maternity leave - to land a job at the Plymouth Road store.
Employees also had to track down their outstanding pay by traveling in a group to the Berrys’ new restaurant, the Rams Horn, in Ypsilanti Township; many had to go to the Taylor area for the money. None would take a check as payment, they said, noting some checks bounced in recent months.
As they look back, they see the red flags - questions from staff and signs of stress in Sam Berry that prompted concern from regular customers.
Beckett, who’d worked at both restaurants, said many employees had been at the Big Boys for years. She joined the others in saying the workplace felt like a family.
That adds to the difficulty: They say they would have been willing to try to understand and help the Berrys deal with the situation.
“If they had just called and said, ‘This is what’s going on….,” Garrett said.
“It’s not like they were oblivious to the situation,” Finnis added.
Court files show payment default notices went out in December, when the Berrys owed Big Boy Inc. $33,733. Another went out in May for $18,466.
The lawsuits are moving forward. Recent entries in the court files show Judge Donald Shelton denied a motion for arbitration on Aug. 19. The cases head to trial in June 2010 if no resolution is reached.
Meanwhile, the owners of both buildings are seeking new tenants.
Jerry Helmer, owner of the Zeeb store, is negotiating with Big Boy officials and considering options for the missing equipment and unpaid water bills.
“We have to have it open again under Big Boy corporate (management),” he said.
Vijay Sahore of Rochester Hills, owner of the Lohr restaurant, said he has the property listed and hopes to have a deal finalized this fall.
Berry, speaking to Ann Arbor.com for an Aug. 7 story on the Lohr closing, offered an apology to customers who were surprised by the closing. He also assured them the store would quickly reopen.
"I am so sorry that this had to happen like this ... If I was closing my doors, I’d let everyone know (ahead of time)."
His former employees find that ironic.
“I think their pride was hurt more than anything else,” Janiga said. “… They knew about that Zeeb Road store for a long time.
"When you don’t pay the mortgage, you know you’re not going to have a store.”
Photo: Debbie Janiga and Mary Rossettie are among about 75 people who lost their jobs when two Ann Arbor Big Boy restaurants closed this summer. Photo by Lon Horwedel.
Paula Gardner is Business Director at Ann Arbor.com. Contact her at (734) 623-2586, via email or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
YongeC
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 12:38 p.m.
move the big boys to the macarthur blvd in ypsi to i can walk to big boys and get that hot fugde sundae cake and a big cheese and bacon whenever i want! lol
mary bundy
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 7:21 p.m.
I am a employ at the rams horn on whitiker rd.. and i very sad on how mr. berry treated the employs at big boys and the rams horn i have been there since opening day but i am trully happy now cause they lost that bussiness to i am here to say you are not hurting mr. berry now keith nor sam or bill is no longer the owners of this restraut so now all people are going to hurt is the honest new owners and the employs that are just trying to raise there familys... I am a single mother trying to make a living and i am a honest person and i was hurt to when they were stealing from myself and my children but the new owners are suffering to because of the berrys mistakes and we are all paying for it but the are very good people that own it now and trying very hard so please give us and the new owners a chance!!!!!!
A.M.A
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 6:29 p.m.
I have been to the new Rams Horn in Ypsi, it is a very nice place good service and good food, i got to meet the owners over there, they are not the same people that started the place,it is non of my business what anyone writes on these comments but just to be fair, i dont think we should boycott that Rams horn cause some other jerk or jerks did bad by their people. these people are nice and very professional. thats just my own opinion. thanks
Rams Horn Ypsi
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 4:21 p.m.
Hello Ms. Paula Gardner, from the NEW owners of RAMS HORN YPSILANTI Whittaker rd. We have not had the honor of meeting you yet, We do look forword to doing so. We would like to take this opportunity to comment on your article about the Berry's who were the previuos owners of this Rams Horn. Hello to all, we would like to invite you to visit our new Rams Horn restaurant and experience and see our loyalty from within our staff, food, service, cleanliness, and above all our loyalty to what the public has come to expect from all reputable organzation. We honor your oppinions please dont hazitate to contact and get intouch with us at the new Rams Horn 734 482 4880. or email mchami16@gmail.com Thank you the NEW OWNERS OF RAMS HORN YPSILANTI, Mr. Chami and Mr. Sharara.
Harley Chic
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 12:37 p.m.
I just wanted to post my last comment to everybody and say to my customers that I had the privilege to wait on I am very sorry for any wrong doings to you and I will deeply miss everybody and hope one day to wait on you again!!! To my fellow employees good luck in your search for a new job I will miss everybody! if anybody would like to stay in touch HarleyChic48103@yahoo.com I am very sorry if I affended anybody that was not my intention.
Debbie Janiga
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 12:17 p.m.
I know Sheila everyone is just really up set about all of this, and i wish you all the best too. Maybe one day we can all get together for lunch. As for Scooter i'am really sorry that happened to you and any body else that it happend to. Did that happen at the Zeeb store or Pittsfield?
Harley Chic
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 7:53 a.m.
Well I am very sorry to hear that your money was taken from you I assure you it was not me' I didn't work the last day they were open. Just angry everybody is playing the blame game not just on hear nobody knows the real truth and eventually it will come out sooner or later!!!! Trust me Deb I am hurtin just as much as you are I miss everybody also. I feel like i lost a whole new family that I never had. Now what are the chances I'll ever get to see you and everybody else any more probaly never. I cry right now-knowing I won't Good Luck for you!!!!! BYE!!!!
scooter
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 6:06 a.m.
It is sad. My family and I used to eat there on a regular bases. What is sadder is the last day that they were open someone decided to give themselves a $70 tip at my expense. A boy scout troop that stopped by for breakfast was taken for $150. According to the police it happened all day long to customers. If were the staff who helped themselves to other peoples hard earned money then shame on them. I have been out of work for some time so I have no sympathy for them since they were the ones that helped themselves to a little extra cash. Like it was owed to them.
Debbie Janiga
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 9:23 p.m.
and as for bashing the Berrys, i just think a lot of people came to care and even some loved them and they let a lot of people down. I haven't read anything on here that wasn't the truth other wise i would say something. Talk to you later Sheil!
Debbie Janiga
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 9:10 p.m.
Ms Chic, Sure enough the economy is bad but if anyone knew the profits in that store it was me and the Berrys and i can a sure you that it was not the economy. For people that think it was the economy please tell me why they would strip the zeeb road store bare? That was just hateful and evil, and if vj wouldn't have been as smart as he is they would have done it to the Pittsfield store too.
Harley Chic
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 8:43 p.m.
I like how you remove my comment because you say I was attacking another person but other peoples comments bashing the Berry's are still up here!!!
Harley Chic
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 8:03 p.m.
It's not Mr it's Ms. Thank you and I agree with things never work out for dishonest people but the economy had alot to do with it and you know it. I worked with you for a year!!!!! You said It Yourself numerous times when we were at work!!!!!
Debbie Janiga
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 7:45 p.m.
To Mr Chic, Bill Berry does still own Rams Horn, he is still there every day. They say that Keith owns it now but that is a BIG fat lie!! And another thing it was Not the economy, it was them not paying their bills and trying to live like the "Jones". All i have to say is things never work out for dishonest people!
Steve Pepple
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 3:46 p.m.
A comment was taken down because it contained a personal attack against another commenter. Please keep the conversation civil and on track.
Harley Chic
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 1:34 p.m.
My apologies to Paula i miss read who had wrote that comment. My anger is directed to this person and i use the term loosly (OWNRDGD) who ever you are i think you should get your facts straight before you open your mouth and insert your foot. Everyone of you with something negitive to say about the (Berry's) should take a min and think these are very hard time's right now and it's easy to play the blame game if you have nothing to lose. Our business owners and operators are feeling the pinch just as bad if not worse than the rest of us you say what about the staff that lost there jobs well what about the Berry family who has lost everything. the lohr road store that they have had and operated for the past eight or ten years and the new zeeb road store that they've been operating for the past almost two years and you want to go and boycott the Ramshorn in ypsi here's something i bet you didn't know is that you would be putting another Michigan business out of business. And for your information Mr.Nabile Berry dose not own that store while he might have been part in opening the store he has since been bought out of his part so go ahead and boycott that restaurant and i hope you feel good about your self's when you cost more Michigan families there jobs and home's
Harley Chic
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : noon
How can you say the economy has nothing to do with it, when you yourself (Paula Gardner) said that Lohr Rd. was running neck and neck in sales when Zeeb Rd. was a new and BIGGER store they should have been doing much better in sales then Lohr Rd. I worked there 5 days a week on average my sales were $150.00 to $400.00 average that to 4 servers a day after food costs and to pay the employees that isn't enough left over to do much with.I say the economy has everything to do with it especially when i would be lucky if I left work with $40.00 a day.
Sherry
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 11:36 a.m.
Michigan' economy had nothing to do with the Big Boy closing on Zeeb Rd.. It had to do with the owner not paying his bills. Big Boy was a goldmine around Scio. It was always busy and all the employees were kind and the food was good also. My heart goes out to all the workers on Lohr Rd. and to the ones on Zeeb Rd.. I know so many people were happy that a Big Boy was coming to Scio. It seemed like it was here one minute and the next it was gone. I and my family could go out to eat and it was affordable when before Big Boy came we could not eat out as often or even at all. I hope a Cracker Barrel can move into that place, they at least pay their bills and the food is great and maybe they will hire the employees who worked for Big Boy would again have a job. I and my family have gone to the Classic Cup Cafe on Jackson Rd. and the food is good, the service is great and it is affordable. So, Scio residents we do have a place to go where we don't have to break the bank to eat out.
Sherry
Mon, Sep 7, 2009 : 11:18 a.m.
I feel bad for the workers of the Big Boys that closed. I live near the one that used to be on Zeeb Rd. and I it was always busy and that had to do from the people who were on their feet all the time and that would be the waiters and waitresses and the dishwashers while their boss sat on his fanny and collected the money generated from the Citizens of Scio Township. Was this Big Boy open even a year? All these people who kept people coming back lost their jobs because their boss would not pay his bills. I hope a Cracker Barrel can come in there and of course fix the building up as they choose and hire back all these good people and I agree with all going to the Classic Cup to eat. The food is great and is affordable for families. They at least pay their bills! So, stop into the Classic Cup Cafe on Jackson Rd. and give them a try, I do believe that you will find it a great place to eat and the service is just as wonderful.
ownrdgd
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 11:21 a.m.
Helloooooo, Michigans economy had NOTHING to do with the closing of either lohr rd or zeeb rds Big boy restaurants.To the contrary,I know for a fact that the zeeb rd store was a very fat CASH cow.It was doing very above volume business raking in tons of cash on a daily basis and the lohr rd store was running neck and neck in sales also so lets forget about michigans economy as a reason for their (the berrys) demise.There problem was they forgot, for what ever reason to pay their bills and they got evicted.They thought they could try and pull the wool over there landlords eyes but it backfired on them and they lost. As for not having limited choices for places to eat try the classic cup cafe on jackson rd just west of park rd.I was a daily regular at zeeb rd big boy and now am a daily regular at classic cup. Great food,great service, very reasonable prices give them a try If you want to hit them where it hurts(the berrys)BOYCOTT there new restaurant the Rams Horn on s huron st south of I-94 just before textile rd
Paula Gardner
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 7:49 a.m.
DebbieDora2, Thanks for your comment, but out of fairness to Vijay Sahore, I do want to point out: He owns the Lohr building, but did not run the Big Boy there - The people operating the Big Boy were Sam and Nabil Berry.
DebbieDora2
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 7:41 a.m.
Vijay: The place was busy. I came in several times you were loud you made peole feel uncomfortable. Ecspecially you and your buddy if you made two trips to the salad bar oh my the roling of your eyes and the arms crossed. Quit coming gave you several oppurtunitys. Basically The waiter and waitress's brought you returning clients. I think after this you should stop opening resturants and either pay the bills or unlavish your life style.
ummsw
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 7:36 a.m.
If I'm correct the closing of Bill Knapp's happened the same way one day it was open the next it was closed. I can't imagine how devastating this must be for all involved. As a customer I'm sorry to see both these establishments leave or community. It leaves very few affordable options for families to dine out.
GoblueBeatOSU
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 7:10 a.m.
"It is such a shame that the michigan economy is doing such harm to people."..there is more to this than the mcihgian economy.... "Berry, speaking to Ann Arbor.com for an Aug. 7 story on the Lohr closing, offered an apology to customers who were surprised by the closing. He also assured them the store would quickly reopen."...tht is an out right lie. something is going on here that isn't right....these owners are covering something...their lies aren't going to keep the problem covered for long.
barks74
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 5:43 a.m.
I think the guy who took my order and i paid my bill too was Mr. Berry. He was so proud of his big boy. It is such a shame that the michigan economy is doing such harm to people.
barks74
Sun, Sep 6, 2009 : 5:27 a.m.
i toook my girlfriend there in 99 it was dirty when i returned to the lohr rd store in 01 the guy told me it was under new management, I was happy with the food and service. I went back a few times since i guess i should have gone more often! I feel bad for the waitresses!