Riverside restaurant closes without warning

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former employees at a Riverside restaurant are without a job after a restaurant closed without warning.

Sbraga & Company in Unity Plaza is owned by "Top Chef" winner Kevin Sbraga.

Action News Jax news partners at the Jacksonville Business Journal reported that employees arrived to find a note on the door Monday saying, "Dear Employees and Vendors: We're sad to say the restaurant is closed and no longer operating."

The employees reportedly didn’t even collect their things.

Sbraga took to Instagram and Twitter overnight leaving a message for his employees and customers, saying it was not his company that closed the restaurant.

“I'm heartbroken at how things have panned out. I'm sure there are questions on the specifics of the situation that I likely can't answer now, but please know none of this was under my control or my decision.”

The Jacksonville Business Journal reports that the dinner crowd had been consistent though the restaurant did have to quietly abandon its lunch hours due to low foot traffic. It reports that Unity Plaza’s interim director called it a dispute between the restaurateur and the landlord.

Action News Jax also learned Sbraga was also previously sued by the company who installed equipment at his restaurant in Philadelphia. The company said Sbraga owed them more than $100,000.

View this post on Instagram

I want to take a moment to talk about today's events in the most candid way possible. It was not Sbraga Dining who closed Sbraga & Company, locked employees out with no notice, and put up an "announcement" on the door. Sadly enough, I found out about this at the same time many of you did. I have always cared deeply about my employees, and personally built the S&Co. team from the ground up. I'm heartbroken at how things have panned out. I'm sure there are questions on the specifics of the situation that I likely can't answer now, but please know none of this was under my control or my decision. I wanted to continue to thrive and grow in Jacksonville with the restaurant, and provide opportunities for my staff to do the same. I felt deeply connected to Jacksonville before the restaurant even opened, and not just because I have family here. Jacksonville is a beautiful, vibrant city with an unparalleled culinary community. I'm honored to have been a part of that for the time I was here, and ask for your patience as we sort through this closure. Sincerely, Kevin Sbraga

A post shared by Chicken Whisperer (@kevinsbraga) on Jul 18, 2016 at 7:48pm PDT