Connecticut
Beloved CT restaurant closes abruptly, a ‘very difficult decision’ leaving them ‘heartbroken’
One Fifty Central restaurant and bar in Bristol is the latest victim of Connecticut staff shortages and soaring costs, announcing their permanent closure through Facebook.
In the parting Facebook post, the restaurant’s owners thank loyal customers and employees who became “like a big extension of our Santorso family,” and they wished there was time to stay open to say proper goodbyes.
The owners could not be reached for comment.
The post says summer is the hardest season for the restaurant business and “it’s normal for finances to be tight, but it usually all works out in the fall and winter.
But the post also says there are persistent staff shortages in the kitchen
“Knowing that the kitchen would be unable to function without a full staff, and having been unable to find any competent employees through this nationwide employee shortage, we knew that we would be unable to open for the foreseeable future without jeopardizing the quality and service our customers deserve,” the social media post states.
That is combined with the overall difficulty in their restaurant business post-COVID, such as food, utility and payroll costs, contributed the closure, the Facebook post states.
“All these things combined have led us to this very difficult decision,” the post states, adding they are “heartbroken” that this is how it ended.
Employers are running into hiring troubles across many industries in Connecticut, with nearly 100,000 openings going unfilled as of last month. Other restaurants in Connecticut have opened this year amid the hiring issues.
5 new CT restaurants to try this summer. Think taste, location, ambiance.
The One Fifty Central restaurant restaurant, described on its website as an American bistro, has been in business for about 10 years.
Customers reacted on Facebook with sadness and fond memories.
One woman wrote in the comments section, “We love your family and will miss seeing everyone tremendously. Thank you for being such a huge part of our family’s celebrations and making us feel so welcome and loved for so many years.”
Another customer wrote, with a sad face emoji,: “It has been so many great years…”
Another customer who thanked the owners for a “wonderful dining experience,” wrote: “You always treated your customers like family. You have a lot to be proud of. Wishing you all the best. You will definitely be missed.”
Another commenter acknowledged the tough times for business, writing, “This makes us so sad. It is so difficult to keep a business moving these days and you all did everything you could to keep it going.”
Connecticut’s COVID-19 emergency ended in May, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. He said at the time that the economy bounced back and economic conditions are improving, though rebounding from the personal impact of the pandemic may take a little longer.
Connecticut
Smoke from MA fire noticed from Southington to New Haven
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA (WFSB) – Smoke from a large fire in Massachusetts wafted into Connecticut.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said on Tuesday morning that smoke from the fire in Great Barrington traveled south into the state.
“Many residents from Southington to New Haven and beyond may be noticing a strong smell of smoke and haze [Tuesday] morning,” DEEP said.
DEEP said that Tuesday’s weather conditions caused smoke to spread widely and stay close to the ground. That’s what made it more noticeable.
“Local officials are monitoring the situation,” it said. “If you’re sensitive to smoke, consider staying indoors and keeping windows closed until conditions improve.”
More on the forecast can be read in the technical discussion from Channel 3’s meteorologists here.
Copyright 2024 WFSB. All rights reserved.
Connecticut
Serious crash in downtown Stamford causes road closure
A serious car crash closed a busy road in downtown Stamford on Monday night.
The police department said Washington Boulevard is closed at the intersection with Bridge Street because of a serious crash.
Drivers are being asked to stay away from the area.
No additional information was immediately available.
Connecticut
Immigration advocates vow to fight Trump deportation plans
Immigration advocates say they’ve already been preparing for President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to ramp up deportations once he returns to the White House.
“We anticipate that they’re going to be very quick, very rapid, very massive efforts to grab as many people as possible and deport them,” National Immigration Law Center President Kica Matos said during a rally outside the Capitol on Monday.
Matos said hers and other organizations began considering possible actions earlier this year in case Trump won.
Now, Trump is promising to deliver on his campaign pledge, taking to his Truth Social platform earlier in the morning to confirm he plans to declare a national emergency.
He also intends to try and use the military to support his deportation effort, his post confirmed.
Advocates said they’re trying to assume undocumented immigrants in Connecticut that their organizations will offer support.
“If families have to be separated, it defeats the point completely because people are trying to get to the United States to be with their families,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students For a Dream.
Sookdeo said her family came from Guyana when she was a teenager and her grandmother, who was a U.S. citizen, was trying to help them also get permanent legal status.
Her grandmother died during the process, though, leaving Sookdeo’s family in limbo.
“Immigration is pretty complicated,” she said.
Democrats, meanwhile, said they won’t support federal deportation efforts.
Attorney General William Tong (D) pointed to the state’s Trust Act, which bars local and state agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“Connecticut is going to care for our immigrant families and immigrant neighbors and friends,” Tong said.
There are some exceptions, including when an undocumented immigrant is convicted of a Class A or Class B felony. Tong wouldn’t say if that means Connecticut has to notify federal authorities of such a conviction.
“I’m not going to issue a legal opinion on the fly from this podium,” Tong said.
Connecticut Republicans were critical of Democrats, though, saying their policies don’t reflect what voters want.
Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said Connecticut spends too much money supporting undocumented immigrants, including with Medicaid, education and other assistance.
He also said voters are worried about public safety.
“It’s really out of step, I think, with what the residents and America wants, and that is, you know, safe borders, public safety and we have to get the cost of immigration under control,” Candelora said.
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