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Roberta's Pizza In Bushwick Abruptly Closes After Several Workers Contract COVID-19, Employees Say
By
David Cruz
Published Nov 28, 2020
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By
David Cruz
Published Nov 28, 2020
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Bushwick pizzeria and restaurant Roberta's has temporarily closed after a number of workers contracted COVID-19, according to three employees. Management, they said, is offering very little guidance to the nearly 150 workers over when they will reopen. [UPDATE, 11/30] Roberta's confirmed they were closing their Bushwick and Williamsburg locations, due to coronavirus cases, in an Instagram post that was shared after the publication of this story. They wrote, "We are sad to announce that Roberta’s has had several employees that have tested positive for COVID-19." [More details below]
"It's still growing; it's TBD," one worker, who asked to remain anonymous over fears of retaliation from his bosses, said regarding the number of cases.
Several employees of the Moore Street pizza place -- who also asked to remain anonymous over fears of reprisal -- confirmed the outbreak to Gothamist, adding managers had abruptly closed the restaurant on Wednesday, temporarily putting them out of work. The closure came two days after employees say they learned that at several workers from the takeout section had contracted the virus. Despite the cases, they said managers kept the establishment open. According to Instagram, they noted their Williamsburg location in Domino Park was open on Friday, but did not mention the Bushwick location.
More confusion came after managers sent two contradictory emails -- one stating that the pizza place would reopen on Friday, which was followed by another email stating it was going to remain closed until at least Monday with anti-viral cleaning of the establishment expected. One employee said he was expecting to go to work on Friday, only to receive the follow-up email an hour before his shift started. Employees were also told in the second email to get tested “no earlier than this Sunday” before returning to work. The worker was not confident that the pizza place would open on Monday.
"If they're saying people have to get tested no earlier than Sunday [...] how are freakin' people even gonna get the results back in order to open on Monday?" the worker -- who took a rapid test on Friday and got a negative result on Saturday -- said.
The employees we spoke to believe that at least six colleagues recently learned they had the virus. It's unclear, however, whether any of the workers were infected at the restaurant, which has been open for indoor dining at reduced capacity.
Employees said they were frustrated by management's decision to keep the eatery open and their lack of coordination over reopening.
"Roberta's is kind of a franchise, if they have money to be opening new restaurants I don't understand why they can't be putting any money into the current restaurant that people are actually working at," another employee said. "So I think that's the frustration with everybody is that we feel very neglected. And not enough is being done."
The three workers who spoke to Gothamist said the city's contact tracing program has not reached out to them.
Workers have now sent a letter to management outlining those frustrations, with questions ranging from whether they'll continue to be paid while the pizza place is closed or be compensated for taking time to get a COVID-19 test.
Unlike other eateries upended by the pandemic, Roberta's stayed open with takeout offerings, delivery, and indoor and outdoor dining. One employee who spoke to Gothamist said masks are worn by employees and dining tables have been properly spaced inside, with customers told to keep masks on. Food preparers, however, continue to be clustered in the kitchen area.
Another employee, who also asked to remain anonymous over fears of retribution, said she's confused over whom to direct her frustration.
"I think a lot of management is trying, and a lot of management isn't," the employee said. "And ultimately people have their hands tied with respect to giving out information in a transparent manner, because clearly the ultimate goal is to make money."
Representatives for the company did not immediately return an email seeking comment. A call to the business was not answered.
UPDATE: In an Instagram post shared later on Saturday, Roberta's said they were closing due to positive cases and would be cleaning their restaurants.
Tagged
COVID-19
indoor dining
restaurant
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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