Reported by a commercial real estate information site, the information had been taken up extensively over the weekend, obviously prematurely. Contrary to what had been announced, Maison Kayser is not preparing to close its sixteen New York stores.
In a press release sent to French Morning on Monday, the company on the contrary announced its intention to reopen in September. ” While we cannot predict the course of COVID-19, we continue to prepare for a reopening of our New York bakeries in September. At the same time, we must prepare for any eventuality. This includes exploring options that reflect our commitment to protecting the health and safety of our staff and customers, as well as the financial well-being of our business. “
Very hit by the crisis, like all restaurateurs, the chain of artisan bakeries did not reopen on the terrace when it was authorized in June. Seeking to reduce costs, Maison Kayser USA (the company that owns the franchise in the United States of the Eric Kayser brand) has entered into discussions with some of the owners of its shops, to reduce rents or to put down outright end of leases. It was these negotiations that led the Commercial Observer site to deduce that the bakeries were all going to be closed. The information was taken up extensively, in particular by BFM Business, at least prematurely.
In March, when confinement was put in place in New York, the company had to put on short-time work (” temporary layoff ”) Its 689 employees. Maison Kayser USA did not wish to say more about the form that the reopening could take in September, and in particular the scope, but an internal source told French Morning that the current negotiations with the owners were aimed above all at ” reduce future costs of locations, not necessarily out of them “.
