The last of the Don Pablo’s Mexican restaurant chain, located near the Deptford Mall in Gloucester County, abruptly closed Sunday night when corporate officials informed staff at the close of business, according to workers there.

Elizabeth Jarvis, a waitress, said her coworkers were shocked by the closing, even though rumors of the shutdown had swirled for months. She said restaurant managers had assured the staff a few months ago they didn’t need to look for other jobs because a closing wasn’t imminent.

Now the restaurant is shuttered.

“We have been told little to nothing about the situation,” said Jarvis, 27, who wasn’t working Sunday when the restaurant was shutdown. “In March or April, corporate said Don Pablo’s was not going anywhere any time soon.”

Jarvis said her coworkers are swapping stories about what happened Sunday and what happens next on a private Facebook group.

She said she and about 40 coworkers are now looking for jobs.

The company website leads to a blank page with a one-sentence message: ‘Please come back later.’ No one answered phone at the Deptford Center Road location.

Don Pablo’s filed for bankruptcy last year. In 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the emergence of a number of “fast casual” Mexican restaurants such as Moe’s and Chipotle, more Mexican food offerings from other restaurants such as Applebee’s, Chili’s and TGI Fridays, and the decline of people heading to casual dining locations.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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