If you think you’ve got staffing problems, the owners of a pizzeria in Meridian, Mississippi, just might have it worse.
Nick & Al’s New York Style Pizzeria, owned by the Lisi family, has temporarily closed due to lack of employees. But that’s because the owner cut most of them loose—and then went public with the decision on Facebook.
“We have fired the majority of our employees,” the March 17 post explained. “Dramatic? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.”
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With surprising candor, the post continued: “As business owners, we’re constantly facing never-ending issues. Poor attitudes towards customers as well as coworkers, complete disregard for proper training of new employees, increasing customer dissatisfaction [with] service and quality, never-ending workplace drama and an overall lack of basic work ethic just to name a few.”
The post included an image featuring the Nick & Al’s logo and the statement, “That’s enough.”
The Lisis said they hope to re-open soon “with a fresh team and the quality and customer service standards you love and we expect.” They added that fired employees will have a chance to “re-interview” for their positions.
Not surprisingly—it’s Facebook after all—that post drew some not-so-constructive criticism in the comments, including complaints about Nick & Al’s pay. Other comments were more supportive. One person wrote, “Wow. That was a bold move. Proud of your choice. We haven’t been [to the restaurant] in a while because of that. It’s your business and you’ve worked hard to get there. Might want to think about hiring some older people even if they are part time.”
Nick & Al’s offers pizzas, calzones, pastas, sandwiches and salads. Specialty pies on the menu included the Butcher Shop (pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage, meatballs, bacon and garlic oil) and the Spicy Shrimp (shrimp, crushed red pepper and mozzarella).
For a little context, Nick & Al’s is no newcomer to Meridian’s pizza scene. The Lisi family opened it in 1999, and it was named the city’s best pizza spot last year by readers of the Meridian Star. Additionally, Family Destination Guide ranked it No. 3 in an article titled “10 Underrated Restaurants in Mississippi That Will Make Your Pizza Dreams Come True.”
“When a pizza place boldly claims ‘New York Style’ in Mississippi, my skepticism meter typically goes off the charts,” Lucy Adams wrote in that article. “But Nick & Al’s in Meridian isn’t just talking the talk—they’re walking the New York walk, minus the subway delays and honking taxis….Inside, the magic happens with their thin, foldable crust that passes the true test of New York pizza—you can hold it with one hand without the tip flopping down. The sauce has that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, and the cheese is applied with a generous but not overwhelming hand.”
