National coffee shop chain shuts down ALL of its stores with immediate effect - leaving staff and customers stunned

A high-end coffee shop and convenience store has announced it is permanently shutting all its locations across the US. 

Foxtrot, which was established in 2014 in Chicago, had 33 locations across the Chicago, Austin, Dallas and Washington DC areas. 

Customers and employees were reportedly left shocked by the sudden shuttering of all locations on April 23. 

The news came less than six months after Foxtrot announced a merger with Dom's Kitchen & Market, a boutique grocery store with two locations in Chicago, The Washington Post reported. 

In a message posted on the company's social media channels and website on Tuesday, Foxtrot said it had 'explored many avenues to continue the business but found no viable option despite good faith and exhaustive efforts.'

Foxtrot, which was established in 2013 in Chicago, had 33 locations across the Chicago, Austin, Dallas and Washington DC areas

Foxtrot's website also appears to have disappeared - with an error message showing on Wednesday. 

Foxtrot started a decade ago as a delivery service for high-end food and alcoholic drinks - before opening its first physical location in Chicago in 2016.

The stores offered on-demand delivery and pickup, or customers could shop instore for gourmet 'pantry essentials' and hand-picked wines, spirits and beers or pick up a coffee, pastry or ready-to-eat meal.

Its business boomed during the pandemic, and in 2022 the company announced it had raised $160 million in funding, according to a company news release.

In a statement announcing the closures, the company said: 'This decision has not been made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on you, our loyal customers, as well as our dedicated team members. 

'We want to express our sincerest gratitude for your support and patronage throughout the years.

'We understand that this news may come as a shock, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may cause.'

The company confirmed that from April 23, all deliveries and store credits would also no longer be available to customers. 

Account credits and member perks would also cease, Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market said.

Foxtrot started a decade ago as a delivery service for high-end food and alcoholic drinks - before opening its first physical location in Chicago in 2016 - also serving coffee, pastries and ready-to-eat meals

The company posted a message to its website and social media channels following the shock closure announcement

Baristas were formally notified about 11:40am Tuesday that it was their last day of work, according to an email and FAQ reviewed by The Washington Post. 

They were told they would only be paid for shifts through the end of April 23, and their health benefits will end in a week, it reported.

One worker in Chicago, Julia Harlos, posted a video on TikTok announcing her shock at the sudden closure. 

'We just found out our store is closing today at 12,' she said in the video. 

'And by closing, I mean the entire chain shutting down. And I have three more hours on my shift.'

She turns the camera to show customers sitting in the shop drinking coffee and working on laptops. 'What do we tell them?' she said.

A location in downtown Washington DC had a sign posted in the window which read: 'As of today, we are closed for the final time. Thank you for the time we had together,' The Washington Post reported. 

The stores offered on-demand delivery and pickup, or customers could shop instore for gourmet 'pantry essentials' and hand-picked wines, spirits and beers or pick up a coffee, pastry or ready-to-eat meal

It comes amid a slew of store closures across the US as companies battle against rising costs and stubborn inflation and a rising demand for e-commerce.

US retailers shut a total of almost 5,500 stores in 2023 - with major brands like Bed Bath & Beyond, Walgreens and Rite Aid leading the pack.

The closures affected a whole range of sectors, from clothing shops and food retailers to discount stores and drugstores.

Total closures in 2023 were 5,463, according to the latest estimates from advisory firm Coresight Research. That is a 30 percent increase on the year prior.