What a sad day yesterday was…After a long day of work I was looking forward to picking up dinner at the Ashford Dunwoody Eatzi’s. Upon entering the store I noticed a small sign written in black marker- “November 15- Eatzi’s closing.”
Funny, I thought. Renovating before the holidays?
Then I immediately grasped the situation. The shelves were bare. Where normally bountiful and overflowing with fresh foods sat the empty glass coolers with nothing but a bowl of shrimp cocktail and a few slices of turkey. Swarming around me were people grabbing everything in site- giant wheels of cheese, whole quiche’s, bottles of wine.
I went up to a familiar fellow behind the counter. “What does that mean- Eatzi’s closing?” His reply, “The store. The store is closed.” “Peachtree too?” (hoping) “No, all the stores. Bankrupt. We found out today- we walked in, they told us this is our last day of work. Bankrupt!”
My mind went bankrupt.
I prided myself on living in an area where access to some of my favorite places to patronize were close at hand (Super Target, The Apple Store, and of course, Eatzi’s). I feel like my rent should be reduced after this culinary landmark’s exit.
One thing that did make me chuckle was this: even though a terrible event swirled around us people had their appetites on the forefront of their minds. After my brief talk with the guy behind the counter someone quipped. “Can I get a lb of the shrimp?”…”Yes madam, 75% off- would you like more?”
I left hungry and confused. Why, God, why?! How will Dunwoody (much less lazy americans) go on without you!?
Well, I (we) must go on. There are other places to eat in the area…nothing with the same ease and pure fun of picking out overpriced prepared food but you get my drift. Guess we’ll be cooking at home more.
And there’s no way in hell I’ll be defecting to the enemy.
I worked at EatZi’s as part of the management team, on the store level, for about a year. I saw this coming a long long time ago. Extremely poor, weak, fickle upper management and investors who changed their minds, their goals, their objectives and their strategies every other week.
I’m rooting for Phil Romano all the way!!
ITS REALLY AMAZING SEEING HOW BLIND THE PEOPLE CAN BE. I WORKED IN THE HOUSTON STORE FOR SIX YEARS, MY BABY WAS TURNED INTO SHIT BY INVESTORS, THEY ARE NOTHING LESS THAN MONEY HUNGRY IDIOTS WHO MAKE EVERY DECISION ON MONEY AND BUSINESS NOT ON CULINARY EXCELLENCE. NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE CUT…LABOR, QUALITY RAW INGREDIENTS, TRAINING, EMPLOYEE CARE, AND MOST OF ALL CULTURE. MAYBE NOW THEY WILL REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE THEFT OR THE WASTE, IT WAS SH^&%&** UPPER MANAGEMENT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT FOOD AND WHO TRIED TO USE A NON FOOD COMPUTER SYSTEM TO RUN THE PLACE.CASTANZA PARTNERS YOU GOT WHAT YOU DESERVE AND YES! DROPPING THE NEWS ON MY FELLOW, PAST COWORKERS SHOW JUST WHAT PEOPLE YOU ARE….AND THEN YOU ARE TO SMALL DOWN THERE TO EVEN GIVE A PRESS RELEASE. GOOD WORK DIANE AND TO ALL WHO RAN AND WERE TO SMALL TO SAY ANYTHING TO THE MEDIA. YING AND YANG, GOD PUNISHES THE EVIL.
Wow, thanks Sharai and Kevin for your thoughts. I had no idea that what appeared as a happy, thriving store was a mere shell of (seemingly) poor business practices. It’s a shame that the management did not have their most important assets (their employees) in mind.
If it’s any consolation, I truly did LOVE the eatzi’s store I patronized here in Atlanta (both of them, actually). All of the employees that I encountered were friendly, the food was ALWAYS top notch, and it was an absolute pleasure to shop there.
I am truly sorry that the working environment was not as up to par as the food. I hope you both find other jobs that treat you better.
I’m still in shock when I drive by what I always call “the Eatzi’s shopping center” to find that my favorite store has vanished. I, for one, was willing to pay more for my fresh bread because I got it sliced for me, got to sample it, and listen to upbeat classical music while I waited. And the salads..those were handy whenever we had company. The fresh flowers, the 2 for 1 meals after 7:30pm, the cheese wheels, the wine, and the newest addition of the gelato. We spoiled ourselves there several times a week. That was even our regular place to grab food and picnic at Piedmont Park in style. Kroger just won’t do. I loved Eatzi’s and will truly miss its presence. However- knowing what I’ve learned now (that upper management was shady, selfish and inconsiderate to its employees and to its customers by proxy) I now understand that a business can’t run that way forever. The employees that were treated harshly can now find other places to excel, where they are respected more. I am going to miss our little gourmet on the go and am curious what they will put in its place there. Rest in Peatzis.
[...] why I wrote it? Well, 1) my favorite shirt is in the dirty laundry as we speak. 2) My wife and some random people that were concerned about eatzi’s closing are all that frequent my site. Not being bitter, [...]