Boston Market was founded in Newton, Massachusetts in 1985 by Steven Kolow and Arthur Cores. The company was originally named Boston Chicken.
In 1993 Boston Chicken went public with 217 stores.
In 1995 the company changed its name to Boston Market.
Despite 1,100 restaurants and $1 billion in annual sales, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998 when its international expansion caused it to acquire too much high-interest debt.
In 2000 the McDonald’s Corporation acquired Boston Market, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary and closing 400 stores.
In 2007, with the number of stores stabilized at 500, McDonald’s Corporation sold the chain to Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm.
Today Boston Market is a leader in quick-casual dining. The chain’s locations offer take-out and dine-in options, serving customers in cafeteria style. The company also sells frozen foods in supermarkets through a licensing partnership with H.J. Heinz.
As of 2022, Boston Market has 298 locations.
In August 2023, 27 locations in New Jersey closed unexpectedly over unpaid wages and other work-related issues.
Boston Market maintains a corporate office in Golden, Colorado.
Boston Market was founded in Newton, Massachusetts in 1985 by Steven Kolow and Arthur Cores. The company was originally named Boston Chicken.
In 1993 Boston Chicken went public with 217 stores.
History
In 1995 the company changed its name to Boston Market.
Despite 1,100 restaurants and $1 billion in annual sales, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998 when its international expansion caused it to acquire too much high-interest debt.
In 2000 the McDonald’s Corporation acquired Boston Market, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary and closing 400 stores.
In 2007, with the number of stores stabilized at 500, McDonald’s Corporation sold the chain to Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm.
Today Boston Market is a leader in quick-casual dining. The chain’s locations offer take-out and dine-in options, serving customers in cafeteria style. The company also sells frozen foods in supermarkets through a licensing partnership with H.J. Heinz.
As of 2022, Boston Market has 298 locations.
In August 2023, 27 locations in New Jersey closed unexpectedly over unpaid wages and other work-related issues.
Boston Market maintains a corporate office in Golden, Colorado.
Hello, to whom it may concern-
This is Cydney Long with NBC 10 Philadelphia and I cover South Jersey.
Could you please provide a statement with regard to the below Stop Work Order issued by NJ Department of Labor.
Are these all corporate owned stores, what is the situation with alleged back owed wages and sick time? Can you please advise.
We’re on deadline today covering this story for our 5pm newscast.
Thank you Kindly,
Cydney Long
NBC10 Philadelphia
South Jersey Bureau
610 256-3032
Cydney.long@ nbcuni.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2023
NJDOL Orders Work to Halt at 27 Boston Market Locations Statewide
More than $2.5M assessed in back wages, damages, fees, and penalties
TRENTON – On August 14, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) issued 27 stop-work orders to Boston Market locations across the state after finding multiple violations of workers’ rights, including more than $600,000 in back wages owed to 314 workers.
The investigation was prompted when the NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance received a complaint in November 2022 from a Boston Market worker at 770 Route 33 in Hamilton, Mercer County. Since then, nearly three dozen additional complaints have been received naming several New Jersey Boston Market locations. Initial findings included citations for: unpaid/late payment of wages, hindrance of the investigation, failure to pay minimum wage, records violations, failure to pay earned sick leave, and failure to maintain records for earned sick leave.
“With restaurants across the country, Boston Market needs to set a better example for fair treatment of its workers,” said Joseph Petrecca, Assistant Commissioner of NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance. “Thanks to the Murphy Administration, NJDOL has the tools to carry out large-scale enforcement efforts within the state so we can work with employers to stop worker exploitation, create sustainable change, and prevent future violations.”
Initial findings of the investigation were sent to parent company Boston Chicken of NJ, LLC d/b/a Boston Market headquartered in Golden, Colo., to C.E.O. Jignesh Pandya of Newtown, Pa., and to the registered agent of the company at Princeton South Corporate Center in Ewing.
NJDOL investigators have found $607,471 in back wages owed to 314 workers, as well as $1,214,942 in liquidated damages. Boston Chicken of NJ was also assessed an administrative fee of $182,241.30 and $549,500 in administrative penalties, for a total of $2,554,154.30.
Stop-work orders are initiated by NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers, or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations. An employer may appeal a stop-work order, in which case NJDOL has seven days to schedule a hearing. Boston Market has requested a hearing.
NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued, and can assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of the order. The stop-work order may be lifted if and when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved.
Below is the complete list of Boston Market locations that were issued a stop-work order:
491 Ridge Rd, North Arlington, NJ 07031
314 Essex Street, Lodi, NJ 07644
180 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07602
21-20 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
321 Broad Street, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
20 Wycoff Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463
395 NJ-17, Mahwah, NJ 07430
175 Kinderkamack Road, Emerson, NJ 07630
275 Livingston Street, North Vale, NJ 07647
471 Central Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018
247 NJ-10 East, Succasunna, NJ 07876
332 Route 10 West, East Hanover, NJ 07936
1160 US-46, Clifton, NJ 07013
1342 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07012
523 Chestnut Street Union, NJ 07083
770 Route 33, Hamilton, NJ 08619
1729 N. Olden Avenue, Ewing Township, NJ 08638
300 Rt-18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
878 US Rt. 1 North Bound, Edison, NJ 08817
1560 St. Georges Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001
4159 US 9, Howell, NJ 07731
1103 Broad Street, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
900 Easton Avenue #165, Somerset, NJ 08873
514 High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
5716 Blackhorse Pike, Blackwood, NJ 08012
891 Hurffville Road, Woodbury, NJ 08096
301 S. Main Road, Vineland, NJ 08360
NJDOL has issued 138 stop-work orders since this power was expanded in July 2019. For more information on worker benefits and protections, visit myworkrights.nj.gov.
###
Published: Aug. 15, 2023, 4:48 p.m.
Boston Market in East Brunswick is temporarily closed. The state Labor Department cited it an 26 other Boston Market retailers for wage violations. The red sign on the door explains why the restaurant is closed.
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The state Department of Labor announced Tuesday it has issued stop-work orders against 27 Boston Market restaurants across New Jersey, forcing them to temporarily close until they pay $2.5 million in back wages, fines and other penalties for violating laws that protect workers’ rights.
Boston Market, based in Golden, CO. has requested a hearing challenging the findings of the state’s investigation, which began in November with a tip from an employee at the Hamilton, Mercer County location, the labor department announced.
The investigation uncovered violations such as unpaid or late payment of wages, failure to pay minimum wage and earned sick leave, failure to maintain records for earned sick leave and hindering the state’s investigation.
The restaurants collectively owe 314 employees $607,471 in back pay, according to the state’s announcement. The operators also must pay $1.2 million in damages, while Boston Chicken of NJ was slapped with an administrative fee of $182,241.30 and $549,500 in administrative penalties, for a total of $2.5 million.
“With restaurants across the country, Boston Market needs to set a better example for fair treatment of its workers,” said Joseph Petrecca, assistant commissioner for the state Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance. “Thanks to the Murphy Administration, the New Jersey Department of Labor has the tools to carry out large-scale enforcement efforts within the state so we can work with employers to stop worker exploitation, create sustainable change, and prevent future violations.”
Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly strengthened the state’s labor laws to protect workers from exploitation. To date, 138 stop-work orders have been issued since 2019, according to the labor department. Companies that do not comply with a stop-work order could face a $5,000-a-day penalty, the labor department said.
“This power is being utilized in a vigorous manner, making defiance of such a Stop-Work order a costly, protracted and time consuming process, which is exactly what contractors and employers in these situations simply cannot afford,” according to a New Jersey Law Journal article published at law.com.
Boston Market’s media relations department did not respond to a request for comment. There are 31 Boston Market restauramts in New Jersey and 310 nationwide, according to its website.
The state shared its investigation with the parent company, Boston Chicken of NJ, LLC doing business as Boston Market, headquartered in Golden, Colo., to C.E.O. Jignesh Pandya of Newtown, Pa., and to the registered agent of the company at Princeton South Corporate Center in Ewing.
“When a Stop-Work Order is issued, work remains stopped until the business settles their violations with the Labor Department or successfully appeals the Stop-Work Order,” Labor Department spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi said. Under state law, a hearing, once it is requested, must be scheduled within seven days, she said.
The Boston Market locations affected by the stop-work order are located at:
491 Ridge Rd, North Arlington, NJ 07031
314 Essex Street, Lodi, NJ 07644
180 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07602
21-20 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
321 Broad Street, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
20 Wycoff Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463
395 NJ-17, Mahwah, NJ 07430
175 Kinderkamack Road, Emerson, NJ 07630
275 Livingston Street, North Vale, NJ 07647
471 Central Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018
247 NJ-10 East, Succasunna, NJ 07876
332 Route 10 West, East Hanover, NJ 07936
1160 US-46, Clifton, NJ 07013
1342 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07012
523 Chestnut Street Union, NJ 07083
770 Route 33, Hamilton, NJ 08619
1729 N. Olden Avenue, Ewing Township, NJ 08638
300 Rt-18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
878 US Rt. 1 North Bound, Edison, NJ 08817
1560 St. Georges Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001
4159 US 9, Howell, NJ 07731
1103 Broad Street, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
900 Easton Avenue #165, Somerset, NJ 08873
514 High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
5716 Blackhorse Pike, Blackwood, NJ 08012
891 Hurffville Road, Woodbury, NJ 08096
301 S. Main Road, Vineland, NJ 08360
Sent from my iPad
I would address this to whom it many concern,
BUT I have come to discover there is no one that I have talked with thus far that is even remotely concerned. I have been on the phone this morning TRYING, for over an hour, to talk with someone, ANYONE who is concerned about the ABSOLUTELY horrific service I received, or didn’t recieved from the catering department of the Boston Market.
I placed an order on Aug 10, 2023
order #
Order Type: Catering-Delivery
Order Number: 919017441810
Was guaranteed that it would delivered on time at the location where were were having a surprised 70th birthday party for my husband at 6:00pm on August 12.
I recieved a call at noon on the day of the party to be told that the catering department had made a mistake, and they no longer carry the items I ordered, and because of the time frame they couldn’t replace it with just some roasted chicken!!!
I started to panic because we had a variety of other food, but wanted some baked chicken to go along with the fried items on the menu.
The lady I spoke was very nonchalant and uncaring of the predicament your company had put me in and said she didn’t have a corporate number she could give me.
Talk about poor customer service, or non existent concern for customer satisfaction.
This email will probably not get anywhere, like the MANY complaints I saw on the web site. But it gives me satisfaction just to let you know, you can’t be long before going bankrupt, with this lack of care and concern for those who keep you in business.
I ordered on line for curbside. Came to pick up order called that I was here (Boynton Beach fl) girl rudely said we don’t have vegetables. I said fine make it sweet potato and then she said we don’t have chicken. I said what no chicken and she said “yup”. I said I ordered online almost 30 minutes ago and they took my order. She said it won’t be ready for a half hour or so so you got to wait. And I said you expect me to sit in my car for a half hour and she HUNG UP ON ME.
I called and spoke to the manager who pretended to be nice and said oh not half an hour. 5 minutes. I am writing this now while I wait for my order. It’s been 25 minutes so far and no one in sight. This is a horrible. I am picking this order up for an invalid who is diabetic and I hope and pray nothing happens to them. I will be expecting a personal reply to this email and in a timely manner …..it is now been 30 minutes and still no person has come out with my order. Besides the I’ll person what about my time and gas. It’s 82degrees and I can not sit here without my car being on.
Tried to order from catering. Was told they were busy ,and I requested a call back.2 hours later still no call. Called in again ,spoke to a representative . Tried to order red potatoes. Employee kept trying to sell me mashed potatoes . They did not know what red and white potatoes were. The Absolute worst customer service ever!
On July 6, 2021 I went to Boston Market at 471 Central ave in East Orange NJ
I received my food and went to get a drink from the beverage machine. I didn’t realize pieces of the machine were falling apart into my drink until I started to swallow some of the smaller pieces.
I complained to the manager “”Jaziah””….. All she cared about was getting the pieces back. She also gave me the wrong number to complain. I have yet to receive an apology from anyone at Boston Market
Hello I am reaching out about my experience at the Dover Delaware Boston market it was very hot in there and when I asked about the air I was advised that it did not work that was not in good health to me or the customer or the employee working there i advise that this be taken care of as soon as possible.
Thank you
I would like an executive from Boston Market to contact me in regards to terrible way manager handled a problem at the selden ny sote on 02/19/20. Although i love the food due to my experience I will not eat at Boston Market again. Im also sharing my experience with all to hopefully rectify the situation so it doesnt happen to others.
Would like to see a store in North Canton, Ohio again. We wish you had never left! We have an empty location on Portage Street, near the strip. your closest store is in Akron Fairlawn and Chapel Hill area. Our area is booming so this could be a very active store. Please consider our area in your planning. Hoping to see you here soon! Thanks for your time. Portage Street is right off the I-77, great location!
New PRIME RIB dinner. 1. It is expensive without fine atmosphere in restaurant. 2. It looks nothing like your tv ad— half the size!. 3. Prime rib always melts in your mouth so tender…..YOURS – tough! So tough your regular knives hard to cut. While flavor good—still our party will never have again.
Ur restaurant always dependable — this was
An expensive mistake. okeechobee, west palm bch, fl.
WOW!!! I went to Boston Market 2 weeks ago and never got all my order. I sent Boston market a email, NEVER heard back. Then yesterday went to Boston Market and they had a special I also was gonna get that and order more, I had a $5.00 coupon and they would not let me use it. The other special you had to order a drink. After pulling onto the main road I remembed I didnt get my drink. I didnt not go back because the road was so busy. again I email Boston Market about poor customer service. I have tryed to call corp. several times but seems to be not working!! (Who has a company this big with NO corp number!) finally I call Boston market personal dept. The girl gives my number to the store I had visited the last 2 weeks and the manager called me after talking to him he told me all he could do for me was replace my ice tea!! REALLY!! I told him I would not drive all the way there to pick up a ice tea and I will NOT be going back ever to Boston Market. Customer service at its best!!! Im sorry that I will not going back but there food is to expensive to be treated like this……..
I have emailed this company several times over the last 4 years to get them to take a look at Sebring Fl.. I enjoy there food but have to travel 45 miles each way when I want some good Rotisserie chicken. Sebring in Highlands county is a ripe market for them. We are 100,000 strong,have many of the major restaurants ,all of the fast food and Pizza places, A new Popeye’s and an old Kentucky fried store. Our cozy city swells to triple it’s size and all the restaurants are always full. Boston Market is a perfect fit for this blue collar retired community.
I have never in 4 years received an acknowledgement that Boston Market has even read one of my emails.
I recently went to Boston Market about six o’clock in the evening and wanted to purchase a dinner, The young man said they were out of it and didn’t know when the chicken would be ready, This was at the River Forest location in IL. I thought this was unusual since it was Mother’s Day. Maybe you need to show them how to prepare meals in advance , especially on holidays.
Thanks,
Hello I am writing this I went to the Boston market on Long Island in Bethpage on Hempstead tpk @ 7pm I got the half of chicken with two sides the chicken was not cooked some pieces where pink inside the chicken was filled with water like it was in water for an hour and when I got my receipt there was nothing printed so I couldn’t return the meal with no receipt I got a piece of pecan pie and that’s what I had to eat along with my two sides that the only thing that was okay to eat
Hola estoy mandado este queja por qué el jefe Harrison me dio un warning por qué el martes 17 de octubre del año corriente yo estaba enfermo de la gripe y tos y le dije 3 veces que me diera permiso de ir me asia mi casa por qué no podía trabajar así y se hizo los locos y el sabe de que no puedia trabajar así por qué yo estaba enfermo pues no se si es racismo o descriminacio pero el está dando muchos warming a todos por nada y sin razón ninguna esk no es justo nosotros trabajamos en Marciano building 100 bay state road Boston MA 02215
Went to the New City,NY store this past Saturday for take out dinners for my wife and I.She ordered the all white meat quarter chicken.The server suggested she try the new creamy garlic sauce.She asked for it on the side,so they put it in a tiny plastic container.When I got home noticed the chicken platter was $8.99 instead of $7.99..was charged $1.00 extra for the sauce.I asked for my senior discount and the cashier deducted $1.26 from my $17.98 bill .Usually get 10% off so can’t figure out that math.This place has really gone downhill.Asked for red potatoes and was told they would be ready in 16 minutes.
I ve going to Boston Market for many years.
But recently have been very dissapointed.
The chicken is very small. The price is the same. Adjust he price to match the tiny chicken.Better yet let’s have a decent size chicken.
Will not be going back.
I was a assistant manager at the van nuys location….never had any proper trainning in laws or duties….my general manager was on vacation that kept being extended first was 4 weeks then was 5 then 6 weeks then 7… My area manager kept getting on me about staffing guidelines, we barely had enough employees to run the store 12 including myself… People always calling out n was told since SG was over 100% didnt care how or what i had to do just fix it… So fear of losing my job on top of every other stress going on in my life. I did sumthing i had no idea really was wrong just didnt want to lose my job so i adjusted punch out times 20 mins here 20 mins there….
Honestly didnt know was that wrong just feared losing my job if i wasnt under 100%…. Was with company for 7 years good track record but got fired for this…i never had real management tranning or training about laws i didnt understand what i was doing was wrong i was told i had to fix the SG was told didnt care how or why just fix it so i thought thats what he meant…
So now i lost my job losing my home have a 2 yr old idk how im going to put food on table…
Please ill do anything for my job back even a lower postion i understand now why was wrong but i felt thats what i was being told to do..
Please help me i need to be able to put food on the table for my son
28XXXXX
Jason chidester
Van nuys boston market ca
I’m complaining about the location in Medford, Mass. at 616 Fellsway 617-393-0413. I have noticed that none of your employee’s do not wear plastic gloves at all. Just yesterday taking my Co- worker there for lunch I witnessed one of the employees who was serving the food dripping sweat down his face. As he made the plates for the person in line before me he dripped sweat and then wiped it with his hand and continued to serve.Making the people in front of me grossed out as well as myself. My Co-worker and I then became extremely upset and decided not to eat there seeing that it was not sanitary for bodily fluids to be dripping over food. No hats, neither gloves. I then called and spoke to a man named Stanley who said that the man who was making the food and dripping was standing next to him and he would let him know. We will not be going to eat at this location anymore and hope that proper actions will be taken to make sure that people are not being exposed to such. it would also like to note that this place did have AC, but this man out of all the employees was the only one sweating, which was very clear and noticeable but was still allowed to be serving food to people while visibly wiping and dripping sweat.
I am an employee at boston market Riverdale MD. My employee number is 282419. I am writing to the corporate to complain about disrespet from my managers. I have been working this store since 2012 for full time. Now I have an other Job so I work for boston market two days in the week(saturday and sunday). My managers Allways disrespect me IN FRONT OF COSTOMERS. My position is CARVER. Even when a manager make a mistake， he put it on me in front of the COSTOMERS and frustrate me. Yesterday(saturday june 24th)， I was feeling a pain in the back of my head while I was working， I went in the back of the store(at the dish washing area to lay. The manager went over there and I told him what was going on. I told him that I wanted to call 911 to take me to the hospital， and he said “drink some watter and go seet outside for a little and you will be fine. By 8 pm I was steel feeling the pain so I told him that I had to go….
I am writing to the corporation today， because it is beeing too much. I called the store today(sunday june 25th) and told the manager on duty that I was going to be late at work(6pm instead of 4pm)…. By 9pm， I was standing at the carver station and waiting for the other employees to make the plates for one order so I can put the meet on the plate. There was nobody to make the plate. I asked one of the managers: “So everybody is on break?“ .She said:“Why?“. And I said :“I`am waiting for the plate to put the meet on it“. She told me in front of the costomers: “ Go make the plates“. And I told her that Iam doing carver. She was was yelling at me in front of the costomer， saying that she doesn’t care and she want me to go make the plate. So I told her that I`m not making it. The other manager came from the back and asked me what was going on and I explained the situation to him. He told me he didn’t even call the person who was supposed to make the plate，and told me GO MAKE THE PLATE! So I said “ I am not making it“. The he told me to clock out and go home，what I did. I am starting by telling the corporation first.
Thank you for your consideration.
The Bostom Market on Ft Bragg NC, don’t waste your time or money. My wife and I ordered and paid yesterday (25 Apr 2017) each a 2 piece quarter plate. The lady brought the food to our table and the chicken pieces were so small Cornish Hen pieces would have been bigger. Had we seen the size we wouldn’t have ordered, waste of money. I told the lady the pieces were smaller than a Cornish Hen and she said yes that’s what Corp were sending them. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
My husband and I went to Boston market in Dover DE. on Saturday July 9th it was 94 degrees with 100% humidity. The air had been down since Wednesday July 6th we were told, it was so hot and uncomfortable we had to leave. I am so shocked that a company of this stature would still operate with no air. The employees were so uncomfortable I could tell with those ovens on full blast. They were trying to be as pleasant as they could be but I could see they were visibly miserable. I deserve a refund and I will be calling the corporate office.
I WENT TO BOSTON MARKET THE OTHER DAY. I ORDERED COFFEE NO SPLENDER OR EQUALL. THE KETCHUP HAS TO BE BOTTLES. IT IS ON HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE LEVITTOWN NEW YORK. I CAN^T HAVE SALT. THE POTATOES HAS SALT. PLEASE SEE TO THIS STORE. THANK YOU MR ROBERT LEVINE
I been to the Boston market in valley stream NY and I have to say the staff was amazing very friendly the chicken was well done the way I like it and the sides was on point as well I been eating Boston market for awhile now and I can honestly say that this one is one of the best thus far even when the line is long they still move at a great fashion hopefully they will keep up the good job
I ordered your Easter special for 12..think $89.99 and your Quincy, ma store called and cancelled it and said we ran out of food, now this seems unacceptable to me..when I ordered it week week half ago there was no problem..now they call on Friday which is today..right before Easter..dont appreciate this..dont understand, when I placed order wouldn’t you order food..why couldn’t you call me a week ago..I tried sending a tweet ..but to no avail..but whomever running your twitter account seems to be tweetin plenty after I sent a couple of tweets..ive always had good rapport with you guys, but this is ridiculous and to not offer anything..I think a sorry on good friday before easter not helping..appreciate anything you can do
Have you ever considered coming to Lynchburg Virginia. We love Boston Market food. Please open a Boston Market in Lynchburg Virginia. Thank you
Visited your Aventura location Justin manager, miscommunication with order with Dorothy as i explained correction. Asked for a return call which never happened. 3 hours later i reached out and Justin was not informed so he states. He replaced 1 meal but when i returned to hospital the wing whicj is favorite part was crispy burnt and not eatable…ive been with you since boston chicken DISSATISFIED DISAPPOINTED CONSUMER. SIDES WERE GREAT. 305926XXXXX
i just recieved the coupons in response to the letter i wrote about certain frozen dinner. i appreciate you taking the time and i will continue to purchase your frozen foods.