DAYTON — The Vitamin Shoppe near the Dayton Mall was forced to close temporarily Wednesday when the its manager and workers walked off the job, leaving only a sign behind.
The store, located on State Route 725 near the mall, was forced to turn away customers for part of Wednesday and Tuesday. Other businesses, like the Vitamin Shoppe, have been forced to alter their store hours due to staffing issues brought on by the “Great Resignation.”
The store was reopened Thursday, however the company was unable to say where they found the employees who were now working.
“We are pleased that our store on Miamisburg Centerville Rd in Dayton is open and serving the local community with the trusted products they rely on to support their lifelong wellness,” the company said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the store had a sign up that blamed technical issues for the closure, but News Center 7 learned that it wasn’t the original sign. On Tuesday, the original sign said “Everybody quit. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
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The store’s former manager, Sam Tuchin, told News Center 7 that he worked the company for over two years, but the environment deteriorated to such a point that he put in his two week notice. He was then accused of sabotage because other employees were thinking about quitting as well. The accusation led to a mid-day walkout on Tuesday.
“We put our keys on the counter, we put a sign up that said, ‘We quit, sorry for the inconvenience’ and we walked out,” Tuchin said.
News Center 7′s Mike Campbell spoke with customers who arrived at the store Wednesday, not noticing anything was wrong until they tried to open the door. Many were disappointed, but understanding with one customer saying, “you reap what you sow.”
“It is kind of crazy, but it is what it is,” William Porter said. “People have to do what is best for them.”
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Madison Hanson manages a store two doors down from the Vitamin Shoppe. She said she believes the workers that left are evaluating their employment in terms of their personal satisfaction and happiness, not just by a paycheck.
“People can only take so much before they’re like, ‘I’m valued more than this,’” Hanson said.
WHIO reached out to the store’s temporary manager by phone on Wednesday. They referred us to their corporate officers. A spokesperson reached out late Wednesday afternoon with a statement saying they are “committed to serving our customers, communities, and each other, with respect and dedication to our company mission of good health for all.”