NO WARNING: Carvery staff found boss hauling out after hours

ONE employee even turned up for work the next day.

NO WARNING: Rose City Carvery employees Samuel Carpenter, Stacey Williamson, Shareece Edney, Eleisha Edden, Katarina Roach and Serena Carpenter had no idea the eatery would be closing. Picture: Marian Faa

THE unexplained sudden disappearance of a much-loved Warwick eatery has left staff, customers and centre management completely shocked and searching for answers.

Seven employees of the Carvery went into Warwick's shopping centre on Wednesday night to grab snacks before a movie, only to find their boss "hauling out" all the equipment from the restaurant where they worked.

"We walked over and asked what the hell was going on and they told us there was not going to be a store tomorrow," former employee Shareece Edney said.

What was once Rose City Carvery is now a gaping hole in the food court at Rose City Shoppingworld. Picture: Marian Faa

Katarina Roach, who didn't get the memo, turned up for a shift this morning to discover a gaping hole where she used to work.

"I moved here to get my life in order and the first job I get, this happens," she said.

But even long-term employees were left in the dark.

Stacey Williamson has been working at the Carvery for five years and didn't have a clue the popular restaurant would be absconding from its central spot in the food court of Rose City Shoppingworld.

"They have taken everything: counter tops, coffee machine, deep fryer. Everything is gone except the Coke fridge," she said.

"I feel shocked and betrayed and annoyed," she said.

Rose City Carvery employees Samuel Carpenter, Stacey Williamson, Shareece Edney, Eleisha Edden, Katarina Roach and Serena Carpenter say they had no idea the eatery would be closing. Picture: Marian Faa

Employees, some casual and some part-time, are searching for answers ... and new jobs.

Most have already been going around, resumes in hand, trying to find new work.

Centre manager Jason Gard was also caught unawares when he came into work on Thursday morning.

"Shocked, yes definitely, that is one way you could put it," Mr Gard said.

Workers cleaned up the scene at Rose City Carvery this morning. Picture: Marian Faa

"They have closed and removed a lot of their fitout overnight."

The Carvery is one in a string of petals to fall from Rose City Shoppingworld.

It was only last week The Bread Factory turned off its ovens and closed "until further notice".

Mr Gard said he had been trying to contact the Carvery tenants, who still have an active lease on the shop.

"I am still trying to work out what is going on," he said on Thursday morning.

The discovery meant a sudden end to a 10-year tradition for Marie and and Jessica Jobson, who bond over a bacon toastie in the food court every Thursday morning.

"Now we are sitting down here trying to work out what we were going eat," Jessica said.

"This has been our meet and greet," Jessica said.

Originally published as NO WARNING: Carvery staff found boss hauling out after hours