Mike Donoghue

Free Press Staff Writer

A major transportation company in Burlington has told employees that it plans to shut the doors in July.

Benways Taxi, which also operates Yellow Cab, Morf Transit, Airport Taxi and Apollo Limousine Service has been owned by the Robar family for about 35 years.

An estimated 65-70 employees will be out of jobs, according to company owner Wanda Robar.

"It has been a great run," Robar told the Burlington Free Press. "My staff took it with dignity and honor. I am extremely proud of them for rallying behind us."

Benways dispatcher Mark Rozos, a 12-year employee of the company, said the hope is that enough employees will remain at work through at least July Fourth weekend. He said the employees know it is one of the biggest times for customers throughout the county seeking to attend the fireworks display on the Burlington waterfront and other events.

Robar said efforts to try to sell the business, which is based at 666 Riverside Ave., have been unsuccessful, but she hopes somebody will step forward.

"The community has been good to us," she said.

Her husband, Paul Robar, who bought the company, died three years ago, she said.

"I am proud of how far we went in Paul's absence," she said, calling her dad "The Cab King."

She said the family, including company President Cathy Robar continued to operate it, but some "hiccups" along the way have caused the family to decide to close the business.

She did not specify what issues were confronting the company, which uses the motto, "On Time and We Mean It."

The employees were told of the closure at a company meeting on Monday.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said he learned about the closing during the City Council meeting on Monday night.

"It's a sad day when a longtime Burlington company decides to close its business," Weinberger said in a statement to the Free Press.

"It's a loss to our community — to the Burlingtonians and visitors to our City who have relied on Benways to move around the community. And, of course, a great loss for the many Benways employees who now will focus on looking for their next jobs," he said.

The Burlington International Airport Commission was unaware of the news when it held its 4 p.m. meeting on Monday, Vice Chairman Bill Keogh said.

"We have a number of independent cabs servicing the airport," he said.

However, Keogh said he was concerned about the impact on the county, in addition to the airport.

"Maybe somebody will buy the company and streamline it," he said.

April Burbank contributed to this report.

Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghue@freepressmedia.com