Hilton Head Island’s Duck Donuts closes temporarily. Why?
This article has been updated with a statement from Duck Donuts.
Those with a sweet tooth will have to find a new place to get their doughnut fix, as Hilton Head Island’s Duck Donuts location has closed temporarily due to a lack of workers.
The North Carolina-based chain, which opened at the Fresh Market Shoppes in March 2017, announced the closure in a Tuesday evening Facebook post.
“We look forward to re-opening as soon as possible!” the post said. “Thank you for your support and understanding.”
In a statement Wednesday, a Duck Donuts representative said the business apologizes for any inconvenience.
“We strive to provide a superior product and excellent customer service and we did not want to compromise the experience for our guests because of the limited availability of team members,” the statement said.
Businesses in Hilton Head and surrounding areas have experienced intense labor shortages as the country has reopened after widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Politicians and business owners in South Carolina have pointed to the continuation of federal unemployment benefits as a major reason businesses have not been able to hire adequate staff to meet demand. Indeed, depending on certain factors, some recipients would make more on unemployment than minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour in South Carolina. But the state also saw thousands of workers leave the labor force altogether last month.
The Hilton Head Duck Donuts website notes it is hiring for all positions, including doughnut maker, doughnut topper, cashier and store manager.
On Facebook, dozens of Duck Donuts fans expressed their sorrow at the temporary closure.
“Stay strong!” one user posted. “This too shall pass and you’ll come back stronger then ever.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2021 at 8:54 AM.
