Published: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 03:24 PM
GOBBLING UP JOBS: Fort Mill's
restaurant industry feels effects of slow economy
With corporate America slashing jobs left and right, workers are left wondering if their next paycheck will be their last.
At the Plaza Fiesta in Fort Mill near Carowinds, managers of the various food court eateries in the mall said the downturn in the economy has affected them in different ways.
Alex Hefner, the manager of Tony's Pizza, said from his point of view, more and more people have been out looking for new employment or even extra jobs in addition to what they already have.
"We, along with Papa Pino's, get applications daily. If the opportunity comes up to hire someone, we're happy to do it," he said. "But we have to watch what we do. We're trying to survive too."
The food industry, typically an area where part-time work is available, has been closing its doors to new workers in recent months.
"My mom actually got laid off from the airport and got hired at another company, but she needed an extra part-time job. She's been looking in restaurants for a little while," Hefner said.
Subway's Plaza Fiesta location has received close to double the amount of job applications this year, compared to previous years, according to Manager Anil Patel.
"We always seem to run out of applications. We make copies and then they're gone," he said.
Although many food service workers are high school or college age, there has been a recent shift in the types of people applying for part-time work, according to Patel. Many of the applications Subway has received come from people with full-time jobs looking for extra work on the side. Some come from people who have been laid off from corporate offices, Patel said.
"This year has been really bad," Patel said about the increase in job layoffs. "We have hired a few people with full-time work backgrounds."
"The main issue is the number of jobs available," Winthrop economics professor Gary Stone said. "Fast food is going to take a hit too as less people eat out."
Despite the higher education credentials many former white collar workers bring, jobs in the service sector will boil down to interpersonal communication skills and customer service, Stone said. There will be a lot more competition for the jobs that remain available and employers will be able to pick and choose more than they might in good economic times.
"What the employers are looking for is the right attitude," Stone said. "Is this person going to be a good fit, or an irritant? If the people at the counter don't care if you're there, they're not going to keep their jobs."
Some professionals seeking employment in fast food may run into the problem of being overqualified too, he said.
"A wise employer is not going to hire someone who is overqualified because it can cause discontent among other employees," Stone said. "Employers have to consider, 'do I go for someone who's going to leave as soon as the economy turns around?'"
More stable options for laid off professionals can be found in the healthcare field, he said. As more people age, the demand for services will only increase.
He added that the stimulus package President-elect Barack Obama has proposed, with a focus on infrastructure and healthcare, will be key to turning the economy around in the short term. It will also require that banks start lending money again, he said.
Although there may be an increase in interest for jobs at the Plaza Fiesta, most of the businesses there are family-owned and operated and might not have the space or budget to hire new workers.
"Usually, only two people work here," said Kristen Deaton, who works at Bravo Greek Subs. "I've only been asked one time (about employment)."
Deaton said one area she knows has seen a huge influx of job interest is grocery stores.
"My boyfriend got a job at Trader Joe's in Charlotte about a week or so before a big market crash," Deaton said. "The next day they started getting applications. They received something like 4,000."
Deaton said she thought people may have more luck looking in larger locations, rather than "mom and pop stores."
"Luckily, we haven't seen one of the things we expected...a downturn in business," she said.
The same outlook was not shared by all of the eateries in Plaza Fiesta.
"We have had a slowdown in business during the week," said Pedro Zuniga, manager of Dulceria.
"The food court is open here seven days a week, so we witness what happens here everyday. There has been a decrease in business."
Zuniga said the decrease has not had a profound effect on the mall.
The number of applications for jobs at the new Taco Bell in Tega Cay's Stonecrest shopping center has increased slightly, according to employee Nick Merk.
"There's not been a whole lot of people, but we do see a fair amount," the 17-year-old said. "Not many of them are over 30. Mostly they are in their 20s and we get a lot of teens too."
Business is still booming at the restaurant, but it has slowed considerably since it opened in October.
"It's still been pretty consistent," Merk said.
FORT MILL TOWNSHIP -- With corporate America slashing jobs left and right, workers are left wondering if their next paycheck will be their last.
At the Plaza Fiesta in Fort Mill near Carowinds, managers of the various food court eateries in the mall said the downturn in the economy has affected them in different ways.
Alex Hefner, the manager of Tony's Pizza, said from his point of view, more and more people have been out looking for new employment or even extra jobs in addition to what they already have.
"We, along with Papa Pino's, get applications daily. If the opportunity comes up to hire someone, we're happy to do it," he said. "But we have to watch what we do. We're trying to survive too."
The food industry, typically an area where part-time work is available, has been closing its doors to new workers in recent months.
"My mom actually got laid off from the airport and got hired at another company, but she needed an extra part-time job. She's been looking in restaurants for a little while," Hefner said.
Subway's Plaza Fiesta location has received close to double the amount of job applications this year, compared to previous years, according to Manager Anil Patel.
"We always seem to run out of applications. We make copies and then they're gone," he said.
Although many food service workers are high school or college age, there has been a recent shift in the types of people applying for part-time work, according to Patel. Many of the applications Subway has received come from people with full-time jobs looking for extra work on the side. Some come from people who have been laid off from corporate offices, Patel said.
"This year has been really bad," Patel said about the increase in job layoffs. "We have hired a few people with full-time work backgrounds."
"The main issue is the number of jobs available," Winthrop economics professor Gary Stone said. "Fast food is going to take a hit too as less people eat out."
Despite the higher education credentials many former white collar workers bring, jobs in the service sector will boil down to interpersonal communication skills and customer service, Stone said. There will be a lot more competition for the jobs that remain available and employers will be able to pick and choose more than they might in good economic times.
"What the employers are looking for is the right attitude," Stone said. "Is this person going to be a good fit, or an irritant? If the people at the counter don't care if you're there, they're not going to keep their jobs."
Some professionals seeking employment in fast food may run into the problem of being overqualified too, he said.
"A wise employer is not going to hire someone who is overqualified because it can cause discontent among other employees," Stone said. "Employers have to consider, 'do I go for someone who's going to leave as soon as the economy turns around?'"
More stable options for laid off professionals can be found in the healthcare field, he said. As more people age, the demand for services will only increase.
He added that the stimulus package President-elect Barack Obama has proposed, with a focus on infrastructure and healthcare, will be key to turning the economy around in the short term. It will also require that banks start lending money again, he said.
Although there may be an increase in interest for jobs at the Plaza Fiesta, most of the businesses there are family-owned and operated and might not have the space or budget to hire new workers.
"Usually, only two people work here," said Kristen Deaton, who works at Bravo Greek Subs. "I've only been asked one time (about employment)."
Deaton said one area she knows has seen a huge influx of job interest is grocery stores.
"My boyfriend got a job at Trader Joe's in Charlotte about a week or so before a big market crash," Deaton said. "The next day they started getting applications. They received something like 4,000."
Deaton said she thought people may have more luck looking in larger locations, rather than "mom and pop stores."
"Luckily, we haven't seen one of the things we expected...a downturn in business," she said.
The same outlook was not shared by all of the eateries in Plaza Fiesta.
"We have had a slowdown in business during the week," said Pedro Zuniga, manager of Dulceria.
"The food court is open here seven days a week, so we witness what happens here everyday. There has been a decrease in business."
Zuniga said the decrease has not had a profound effect on the mall.
The number of applications for jobs at the new Taco Bell in Tega Cay's Stonecrest shopping center has increased slightly, according to employee Nick Merk.
"There's not been a whole lot of people, but we do see a fair amount," the 17-year-old said. "Not many of them are over 30. Mostly they are in their 20s and we get a lot of teens too."
Business is still booming at the restaurant, but it has slowed considerably since it opened in October.
"It's still been pretty consistent," Merk said.