(WWJ) Dave & Busters will be permanently laying off more than 300 employees in Michigan, effective November 8, as the food and fun chain struggles with the COVID-19 downturn.
The company notified the state that -- due to the unforeseeable circumstances of the pandemic -- it will layoff 119 employees and the Utica location and 111 employees at the Livonia location.
A third Michigan location in Kentwood, in the Grand Rapids area, will lay off 81 workers.
All D&B locations are operating under reduced hours and capacity limits as dictated by each individual state and community, as well as new seating and game configurations to promote social distancing, according to a news release by the company.
Customer Chris Kornkey of Livonia, who was at the Livonia location with his wife and daughter on Wednesday, was asked what his family would do if D&B were to close for good.
"We'll figure it out; we always find places to go," Kornkey told WWJ's Ron Dewey said. "We've been going to a lot of parks, yep. Taking walks, a lot of pictures."
But is that as fun as Dave & Busters? "It's all fun! A two-and-a-half year-old? She don't care. As long as she's with Mama and Dada, it doesn't matter," Kornkey said. "You know, we're going through some crazy times right now. People are re-gearing...Society's changing."
Future plans for the Michigan locations are up in the air at this point.
Dave & Buster's said in noticed to the state that the Livonia, Utica and Kentwood locations were not being permanently closed, and that company planned to rehire when economic and COVID-19 conditions make it possible.