Vance Osteen initially heard rumors of Regal’s closure from news articles shared in a group chat with his co-workers over the weekend.
The rumor was confirmed the morning of Oct. 5 via a company-wide email sent to all employees at 1 a.m., an hour at which his job acquired an expiration date.
“I’m really frustrated,” Osteen said. “I would rather them tell us first then find out through some media outlet that I’m out of a job.”
The 20-year-old is one of about 40,000 Americans facing unemployment after Cineworld, Regal’s parent company, released a statement last week saying it will be suspending operations at all of its 536 U.S theaters less than seven weeks after its previous reopening.
Gainesville’s three Regal Theater locations — Regal Celebration Pointe, 4901 SW 31st Place; Regal Royal Park, 3702 W. Newberry Road and Regal Butler Town Center, 3101…
