Layoffs heading to Locale Market and FarmTable Cucina in St. Pete

St. Pete Catalyst is reporting that layoffs are coming to the workers at Locale Market and FarmTable Cucina. The market and restaurant concepts have been a part of Downtown St. Petersburg for nearly half a decade.

Up to 131 restaurant workers could be laid off as BE-1 Concepts absorbs the property at the Sundial in Downtown St. Petersburg and begins renovations for a new food hall concept. Layoffs are expected to begin January 5th, but could occur before.

Sundial developer Bill Edwards from BEMC, LLC wrote in their WARN Notice:

"BEMC will no longer operate either of the businesses after closing. It is our understanding that a new business owner intends to open a similar business at the same location. It is also our understanding that the new owner intends to offer continued employment to some, or perhaps many, of the affected employees. BEMC is therefore hopeful that few, if any employees will suffer an employment loss. However, BEMC cannot predict or guarantee what will happen after closing its businesses, and therefore cannot be certain that the new business will open, or that employees will be retained."

On the chopping block:

• 9 Managers
• 5 Supervisors
• 4 Bakers
• 3 Baristas
• 4 Bartenders
• 12 Bussers, Runners, Barbacks
• 3 Butchers
• 38 Cooks/Chefs
• 16 Dishwashers
• 8 Interns
• 6 Hosts
• 2 Maintanence worker
• 4 Porters
• 2 Purchasers
• 2 Receivers
• 9 Servers
• 1 Sommelier
• 3 Stockers

Locale Market and FarmTable Cucina recently were in the news when it was reported that Armature Works acquired the outlets in the Sundial and that the two businesses would be closing at the end of December 2019, just five years after opening with Chef Michael Mina and Chef Don Pintabona at the helm. The concepts have undergone many changes over the years.

Follow Carlos Hernandez on Twitter @CarlosEats or visit him at CarlosEats.com