Michael Sandvig, one of the original hires at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in The Pruneyard nearly 30 years ago, watched the beloved Campbell bar evolve into a local favorite. As a longtime bartender, he fondly recalls events like firefighters plunging into dunk tanks during fundraisers for the San Jose Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.

Now, Sandvig and about 45 coworkers are out of work following the sudden shutdown of the restaurant by its parent company on Wednesday.

According to Sandvig, staff were informed of the closure by Kelly Companies—the owner of the Rock Bottom chain—at 8 a.m. that same day. The week leading up to it raised red flags, as food orders stopped and vendors weren’t paid. No prior warning was given to employees.

Sandvig criticized the company’s handling of the closure, calling it unfair to the many long-serving workers. He’s especially anxious about his own situation, having just financed a new car.

“I’ve been serving some of these customers since day one and have seen their children grow up,” he told San Jose Spotlight. “It’s heartbreaking. I miss my coworkers and the regulars I’ve known for decades.”

The closure comes roughly seven months after Kelly Companies acquired the chain from SPB Hospitality. The company didn’t respond to media inquiries, but employees said a rent increase was cited as the reason.

However, Regency Centers, which owns The Pruneyard, disputes that claim. A spokesperson said they didn’t raise rent but were unable to agree on lease terms after Kelly Companies requested rent relief. As a result, Kelly Companies was asked to leave.

For General Manager Margaret Robertson, who joined in 2022, the closure feels like a personal loss. She remembers hosting staff wedding celebrations and baby showers. To her, the restaurant felt like the TV show Cheers, “where everybody knows your name.”

Robertson said the restaurant struggled after COVID-19 and faced further challenges when corporate replaced its diverse craft beer lineup with mainstream options like Bud Light and Michelob Ultra.

As a single mother of four, Robertson is now worried about her financial future and the well-being of her team. One employee, Dolly Savaii, who worked there for 11 years, became emotional discussing the shutdown.

“Our team was loyal. We believed in this place. We wanted to see it thrive again,” Robertson said. “We held on to hope that it would return to its former glory.”

One loyal customer, Dean Jenco, had been visiting Rock Bottom every Sunday for 20 years to watch Pittsburgh Steelers games with fellow fans—including his 84-year-old mother. Over time, he built a community around those gatherings, even creating a Facebook group to stay connected. Jenco also held business meetings there and dined at the brewery several times a week. His go-to order: Texas fire steak and the Winchester Red beer.

“It always felt like home. Like a family,” Jenco said. “They knew where to seat you, remembered your favorite drink, and shared stories about their families—just like you’d share yours.”

Rock Bottom is not the only Pruneyard business facing hardship. Last year, Pruneyard Cinemas also struggled due to a steep rent increase, though it managed to stay open.

Regulars are now reflecting on what Rock Bottom meant to them and hoping a future tenant can capture the same spirit.

Camille Castillo Leach, who’s been going to Rock Bottom since it opened with her husband nearly 28 years ago, recalled playing card games there with their daughter. She said she’ll miss the nachos and hopes a local business fills the now-vacant space.

“It was our neighborhood pub,” she said. “There’s really nothing else like it in The Pruneyard.”