BUFFALO, N.Y. — Some local restaurants are rallying around former Red Lobster workers who lost their jobs when the seafood chain abruptly closed it doors, including its locations in Western New York.
"My first thought was oh, we better order more lobsters," said Al Green, the owner of 2 Forks Up seafood restaurant on Campbell Boulevard in Getzville.
But Green almost as quickly began thinking about the Red Lobster employees who suddenly found themselves unemployed.
"Especially when it was done so abruptly," Green said. "I understand they were pretty busy for Mother's Day and operated like they were going to be there and then padlocked the doors, and that's tough for employees, and I feel terrible for them."
Green's restaurant began reaching out on social media to advise the displaced workers that he has jobs available at his restaurant.
"We have jobs here, and we'd love for people to come by and talk to us," he said.
At The Poked Yolk, which operates three breakfast restaurants in Western New York, they also got to thinking about the Red Lobster workers.
"We help each other ... that's what we're here to do. So anybody who is hurt by Red Lobster, we're here to open our doors to you," said Chelsea Urena, the kitchen manager at the West Seneca location at 3100 Transit Road.
Green noted that servers and cooks who worked for Red Lobster might feel right at home at his restaurant with a difference, of course, involving the preparation and serving of freshly made meals from scratch.
"It helps to know what seafood is, how to cook it, how long to cook it, and how to handle it," he said.
Urena suggested restaurant workers accustomed to the lunch and dinner rush might enjoy the change of pace at a breakfast restaurant.
"You're out by 2:30 in the afternoon, so you have the rest of the day and the evening to yourself," she said.
Green says there are is a labor shortage in the restaurant industry and predicted Red Lobster workers shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job if they wish to continue in the field.
"We'd love to help them out and I know other restaurants have reached out to them too," he said.