Moe's Italian sandwich shop on Lebanon Street closed suddenly last night because of management troubles.
An announcement on the store's answering machine told customers the store would not deliver their Italian sandwiches.
"Due to circumstances beyond our control, this store is closed," the message said. "Look for our reopening under new management."
Three signs with the same message were posted outside the store.
Tom Keane, the vice president of Moe's To Go Corporation, said last night the store will not reopen for several months at the earliest.
Keane said the Hanover Moe's manager was planning to purchase the store, but had a "change of heart" and left town. Keane would not comment on the manager's name or his whereabouts.
The store was profitable and has "strong support from Moe's fans" in the Upper Valley, Keane said. "We were just left kind of high and dry" when the manager left, he said.
"There's only nine months left on the lease, and it wouldn't be fair to put someone into a managerial position for such a short time," Keane said. The property owner decided not to renew the store's lease, which is to expire Dec. 31.
Moe's is currently located near Memorial Field at the corner of Lebanon Street and Sanborn Lane. The shop offers three kinds of submarine-style sandwiches for carry-out and delivery.
Moe's may never reopen in downtown Hanover. Keane said his company "is keeping all its options open" and will search throughout the Upper Valley area to find a new store location.
"It may be awhile before we open back up, but definitely within the next year," Keane said.
Coupons for sandwiches will be honored at all other Moe's locations, the message said.
Local restaurant managers said the closing has no effect on their business. "Business is pretty steady anyway," said James Dowd, a manager at Everything But Anchovies restaurant on Allen Street.
