Golden Krust Founder and CEO Commits Suicide Inside Bronx Factory
Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill founder and CEO committed suicide inside his Bronx factory on Saturday (November 2).
According to the New York Daily News, Lowell Hawthorne shot himself inside the Park Ave. building near E. 173rd St. in Claremont at about 5:30 pm. Several employees were in disbelief about Hawthorne’s death and expressed their emotions. “He was a good boss, humble and a good businessman,” Former employee Pete Tee said. “He never seemed sad. This is just terrible news right now.”
Many people shared expressed their sadness and sent prayers after the news of Hawthorne’s death.
We are shocked and saddened by the death of Lowell Hawthorne. Our prayers are with his family and his loved ones.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 4, 2017
The legacy of Lowell Hawthorne will live on and I send my deepest condolences to his loved ones. I admire him greatly for bringing our shared love for Jamaican culture to life on a larger scale through food and fellowship. https://t.co/ScCSNP1rD9?amp=1
— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) December 4, 2017
My condolences to the friends, family and employees of Jamaica-born Lowell Hawthorne, CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill.
He headed the largest Caribbean franchise chain in the US, with more than 120 stores. pic.twitter.com/PX9MpD2Mkg
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) December 3, 2017
It is reported that according to court records, Hawthorn was deep in tax debt and was being sued by a former employee for thousands in lost wages. The Jamaican born entrepreneur was “worried” about the liens, which included more than $150,000 in city taxes on the company’s buildings – and owed at least $15,000 in state taxes. Authorities claim they discovered a note Lowell Hawthorne wrote before committed suicide. Right now, the details of the suicide note have not been disclosed.
Back in 1989, Hawthorne opened the first Golden Krust on E. Gun Hill Rd and went on to turn the Jamaican restaurant and bakery into an empire with more than 120 stores in nine states. Along with the various stores, the company sells its famous beef patties in more than 20,000 supermarkets, as well as state penal systems and US military. In addition to the fast-food franchise, Hawthorne wrote a book in 2012, The Baker’s Son: My Life in Business.
Photo Credit: Lowell Hawthorne/Facebook
