Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Two former managers at The Lost Cajun Glenwood Springs, which closed earlier this month, say the owner of the franchise location told them they no longer had jobs just one day before the closure.
On March 5, which happened to be Mardi Gras this year, The Lost Cajun Glenwood Springs posted to its Facebook page: “It is with deep sadness and great regret that we announce that The Lost Cajun Glenwood Springs is now permanently closed.”
According to General Manager Benjamin Williams, franchise owner Greg Jones let him know the news via a text message March 4.
The text message from Jones, according to Williams, read, “Sorry to say it, but we’re finished. The January and February financials were so bad that I can’t keep pouring money into a losing proposition.”
When the surprised Williams inquired as of when, Jones purportedly texted back, “Now.”
In later texts from the same day, Williams said he asked, “What about our rent?” and commented, “You should have given us a heads up so that we could have looked for new jobs.”
To which he said Jones replied, “Sorry. Just made the decision yesterday.”
The Lost Cajun has over 20 locations, from Colorado where it began with the original Frisco location, to South Carolina. There are now numerous different franchise owners.
The Lost Cajun Glenwood Springs opened near what’s now the new Grand Avenue Bridge Plaza in May 2014.
According to thelostcajun.com, Greg Jones became that specific location’s new owner in January 2018. The switch came after Gabe Griffin, son of franchise founder Raymond Griffin, ran the Glenwood location for nearly four years.
Brothers Ben and Preston Williams, who co-managed the location, said they cared deeply about the food they put out and the customers they served.
“I take a lot of pride in what I do,” Ben Williams, who had worked at the eatery since Feb. 8, 2017, said in a recent interview.
He said he was the one who also had to deliver the news to the dozen or so staffers that they need not come into work.
“You have an employee who has a baby on the way,” Benjamin Williams said of one of the staff members.
Numerous messages left with Lost Cajun corporate offices and franchise owner Greg Jones have gone unreturned.