The Caribbean Diaspora is still reeling after yesterday’s disturbing news that the founder and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill who once appeared on “Undercover Boss” killed himself inside his Bronx factory Saturday, police sources said.
Lowell Hawthorne, 57, allegedly shot himself inside the Park Ave. building near E. 173rd St. in Claremont about 5:30 p.m., sources said. As a girl who grew up in NYC, I was around when the very first Golden Krust bakeries were opened and before the franchise grew to what it is today.
This news is very sad for the community and many shared their sentiments on social media including the Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness:
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
Some seemed to question the validity of the suspected suicide.
What is this I’m hearing about Lowell Hawthorne my friend from Golden Krust? No sah…unbelievable
— Rodney Campbell (@rodneytwit) December 3, 2017
More than a dozen current and former employees stood in disbelief outside the factory hours later. Some had tears rolling down their cheeks.
“He was a good boss, humble and a good businessman,” said Pete Tee, 27, a former employee. “He never seemed sad. This is just terrible news right now.”
Hawthorne’s rags-to-riches story began when he migrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in 1981. After working as an accountant for the NYPD, he decided to start the now thriving Caribbean bakery.
Golden Krust became the United States’ first Caribbean franchise and has now grown into a business of over 120 franchises — the largest Caribbean franchise in the U.S.
