In a move that came as a surprise to both customers and employees, financially troubled Even Stevens Sandwiches closed its remaining stores in Arizona today.
The Utah-based chain had closed five of its eight Arizona locations, including one in busy downtown Gilbert, in August 2018. Locations in north Tempe, downtown Chandler, and downtown Phoenix were kept open – until today.
Even Stevens has been roiled in financial woes since an SEC lawsuit charged co-founder Steven Down with fraud in May 2018.
Company president Michael McHenry quit in June, and most of the Arizona locations closed for a few days in July, which the chain blamed on ‘‘supply delivery issues.’’
The first five Arizona locations then were permanently shuttered in August.
That same month, Even Stevens announced a 60-day suspension of its well-publicized pledge to give one sandwich to charity for every one sold. It has yet to be reinstated.
Last year, the chain had locations in six states. Today, all but the Utah locations were deleted from its website.
Even Stevens has made no public announcement about today’s closures.
