Bloomfield Restaurant Closes Over Staffing Issues, Owner Says Goodbye

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The owner of a popular restaurant in Bloomfield is calling it quits.

Last week, Ricky Davis, the owner of Big Bill’s Corner Café on Hoover Avenue, gave some background about the decision to close “effective immediately” in an Instagram post.

According to Davis, the restaurant closed so he and its manager could take a vacation. In the meanwhile, the restaurant didn’t have enough staff on hand to remain open.

It’s a situation that has become unsustainable, he reported.

“We have been experiencing staffing issues for several months, just like every other restaurant in the area, and other industries as well … and it’s just been difficult for us to continue,” Davis said. “We have to maintain a certain level of service and quality of food. And so I made the decision that we’re going to close.”

Davis said that when he opened Big Bill’s, one of his missions was to help the community. And that part of the business was a roaring success, he said, pointing to their involvement with the local PTA, a Little League baseball team, a local food bank and other efforts.

But ultimately, it takes a village to run a restaurant, Davis noted, offering his thanks to the staff members who helped get the eatery this far.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

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