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Virginia Beach board game cafe abruptly closes and lays off all employees, sparking backlash

A Virginia Beach board game cafe near Lynnhaven Mall plans to reopen after a remodel without its original team of employees, the company confirmed.

Snakes & Lattes laid off all nine of its employees on Feb. 26 without any warning or severance pay, said Gabrielle Madurski, the former general manager. Employees showed up for their shifts only to learn they were let go, she added.

Susan Lawver, U.S. director of operations for Snakes & Lattes, said in an email that the decision to lay off the employees was made after considerable deliberation, driven by the need for significant improvements to the operations.

“We recognize, however, that no matter the rationale, the process and communication could have been handled with more care and sensitivity,” she said.

In March 2023, the Canadian-based chain acquired the business at 869 Lynnhaven Parkway that previously operated as the independently owned Roll With It Board Game Cafe and Bar. Snakes & Lattes has three other U.S. locations, including two in Arizona and one in Chicago, Illinois. The Hampton Roads location hosts an extensive collection of more than 600 board games for gamers of all ages and skill levels.

Madurski came on board with the business as a server when it opened in the fall of 2021. When Snakes & Lattes bought the business, she said the staff was left to their own devices and told to keep business as usual — with little to no direction provided by the new owners.

An espresso machine was brought in to the establishment last July but never set up, she said. Employees — eager to hold true to the company name and make lattes — were cautioned to leave it in the box.

As the gaming community learned about the sudden closure and layoffs, comments, questions and concerns poured in on Snakes & Lattes’ online community forum.

Lawver responded in the forum and mentioned the closing of a location in Provo, Utah, and lessons learned regarding how staff reacted. She justified not giving notice to the Virginia Beach employees for fear of theft, vandalism or compromising food protocols.

“It’s pretty insulting,” Madurski said. “And I think it kind of shows how out of touch they were with our location.”<

The employees put their hearts and souls into the business and the comments do not honor the community they built, Madurski said.

Josh McDougle, also an inaugural employee and avid gamer, took on various responsibilities as time went on, including writing all of the questions for and running trivia night, which ended in December. Now, he is out of a job and said he is struggling to make ends meet.

“A community of gamers have lost a place they could relax and enjoy themselves, and nine former employees just happen to be among them,” McDougle said.

The business shared on its website that it’s temporarily closed for remodeling. Lawver said on the online forum that it planned to reopen with a new and improved menu, adding espressos and lattes, and with a new team that will be trained the “snakes way” as far as hospitality goes.

Originally, the business said in the online forum it would reopen on March 16, but

“We are eager to introduce the improvements we’re making, which we believe will significantly enhance the guest experience,” Lawver said, expressing a steadfast commitment to the Virginia Beach community.

Virginia Beach residents Sandy and Jeremy Zimmerman were regulars at the business for the past few years and developed many close friends through game nights. After learning how the staff was treated, she said they do not intend to patronize the business again.

“Every single one of my friends feels the exact same way,” she said. “It is abundantly clear that Snakes & Lattes prioritizes profit margins over the well-being of its employees, callously discarding them like disposable commodities.”

In response to the layoffs, the gaming community started a Facebook group, Get Snakes & Lattes out of VB, and started a GoFundMe campaign, co-organized by Madurski. Madurski said she will make sure the funds go to all eight of the employees, rather than herself.

Meanwhile, Lawver said the company is dedicated to learning from the experience as it moves forward.

“We are committed to improving our communication and to making decisions in a manner that respects and honors the contributions of every member of our team,” she said.

But Lawver said in the online forum, citing the Hampton Roads location’s performance, that the company will not rehire the laid off employees and is seeking a new staff.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, [e-mail]

https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/03/07/virginia-beach-board-game-cafe-abruptly-closes-and-lays-off-all-employees-sparking-backlash-from-community/