SEMINOLE, Fla. — Hundreds of employees in multiple locations across Florida and the deep south are without a job after American Car Center announced a sudden closure of its business on Friday.
Sam Brightman worked at American Car Center in Seminole for more than five years.
"We created a big family here," said Brightman.
But when he left work on Friday he had no idea it would be all of their last day on the job.
"Worked Friday, went home, and received a text message that said, you’re no longer an employee," said Brightman.
All employees across the three American Car Center Tampa Bay area locations, and across the nation were unexpectedly let go.
"How are we going to pay our bills now, I have a child who’s disabled," said Brightman.
Star Schnur worked in tags and titles for six years. She said no one even told her.
"Unlike him, I never got a text, I never got anything," said Schnur.
Some employees did receive an email on Friday from the Memphis-based company’s CEO Noah Hogan. It said in part:
"The company has made the incredibly difficult decision to permanently cease all business operations. Effective close of business Feb. 24, 2023, all employees of the company will be terminated."
Now employees say they're worried they won’t get paid for their final days.
"I don’t know if I’m going to get a paycheck. I don’t know if I’m going to get reimbursed for my vacation time. I don’t know if I even have any medical insurance right now. I don’t know anything," said Brightman.
We reached out through calls and emails to the Memphis-based company but could not get through to anyone.
We also went to all three Tampa Bay area locations and saw the same thing, vacant buildings and tow companies taking cars away.
"No one is answering the calls in Memphis where we pay our bills," said Ginny Nicholls.
She was taking the car she leased from American Car Center in December to get serviced and had no idea of the closure.
A sign on the door said 'temporarily open by appointment only,' but she said when calling for an appointment, no one answered.
"Customers still don’t even know what’s going on," said Nicholls.
The closure has left customers and workers full of questions and frustration.
"No warning, no nothing, just this is it. I don’t think that was fair," said Brightman.
Pinellas County Consumer Protection is suggesting employees call here.
Employees in Hillsborough County can contact Hillsborough County Consumer Protectionhere or by calling 813 903 3430.
Employees can also file a complaint with the US Department of Labor here.
