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Darwin’s Ltd., a well-known Cambridge espresso chain, introduced the closure of all 4 of its areas on Wednesday, solely two weeks after disclosing plans to shut its unique store in Harvard Sq..
Homeowners Steven and Isabel Darwin introduced in an Instagram publish that they’ll retire and shut the chain’s Cambridge St., Massachusetts Ave., and Putnam Ave. areas. The Darwins have owned and operated the espresso chain, which grew in recognition for its sandwiches, since 1993.
“We thank the hundreds of workers, prospects, and the Metropolis of Cambridge for permitting and supporting the 30-year expertise & success of our family-owned enterprise,” the Darwin wrote within the Instagram publish.
The announcement got here lower than a month after the Darwins announced the closure of the chain’s original location on Mt. Auburn St., citing workload and private well being considerations. Whereas the lease extends till Dec. 1, the homeowners mentioned on Wednesday that they reached an settlement with Darwin’s United — the worker union — to shut the situation on Nov. 22.
The Darwins added that closure dates for the opposite three areas are nonetheless undetermined, pending a response from Darwin’s United.
In response to the preliminary closure, members of Darwin’s United organized a rally at Cambridge Metropolis Corridor on Oct. 29, calling on the homeowners to ensure employment to the employees on the Mt. Auburn location, increase wages to $24 per hour, present three weeks of paid time without work, and supply zero-deductible healthcare.
The choice to close down the chain follows a long-fought effort by Darwin’s workers to unionize and secure a new contract with addiional ensures. Tensions between the union and possession got here to a head final month when members of the union protested outdoors the Darwins’ Cambridge house.
Rebecca Patterson, a frequent buyer, mentioned she was dissatisfied to lose a longtime native enterprise.
“I want that the negotiations with the union might have gone higher as a result of I feel there might have been a approach ahead,” Patterson mentioned.
Alexandra C. Stanton, a member of Harvard’s graduate scholar union, beforehand referred to as the closure of the Mt. Auburn location a tactic to “doubtlessly demoralize the employees and frighten them.”
Previous to the Darwins’ announcement final Wednesday, the couple mentioned they deliberate to work in good religion with the union to retain as many workers members as attainable.
The Mt. Auburn location is ready to get replaced by a bakery, in accordance with Cambridge Day.
—Employees author Kate Delval Gonzalez may be reached at kate.delvalgonzalez@thecrimson.com.
—Employees author Brandon L. Kingdollar may be reached at brandon.kingdollar@thecrimson.com. Observe him on Twitter at @newskingdollar.
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