Players, the bar on Franklin Street, has new owners, staff members say.
Drew Smith, a manager for more than two years, said he found out when he went to do inventory on Sunday and the locks had been changed on the doors.
At 6:30 p.m. today, he said he convened a staff meeting to share the surprise.
"I had to tell 34 people that they didn't have a job anymore," he said. "I understand it's the bar business and things like this happen, but it's like you telling your family you're moving to Oklahoma or your parents are splitting up."
Smith said it's unclear whether new owners will be open Thursday.
"They're still going to try to apparently do the same thing with new people, with new everything," he said.
Last year, Players invested in a renovation and change of image. Smith said he was not told why the business was sold.
"We don't even know whether they're going to keep the name," said Brian Doran, who was employed as a bouncer before the change.
Employees created a Facebook event in protest.
