A call center that specialized in taking surveys and providing data to clients abruptly closed its business in Thatcher on Thursday, leaving approximately 147 part-time employees without a job.

The company, Western Wats, based in Orem, Utah, employed mostly students, people who wanted a second job and those with special needs, according to the business’ landlord, Dale Blan of Blan Enterprises.

The company opened its doors in June 2006 and paid an hourly wage up to $9.50, with the average interviewer earning about $7 per hour.

A note on the door notifies employees of the closure. Employees were dropped off for work before finding out they no longer had a job.

Blan, who constructed the building for Western Wats, said the company asked him for a buyout of its three-year lease, which was set to expire in May 2009. He said he didn’t want to offer a buyout, but the company said it was going to shut down and pull out immediately whether it had a buyout of its lease or not.

“I’m really sad to see it shut down,” Blan said. “They didn’t tell anybody anything. They just put a note on the door saying they were closed and that paychecks would be mailed out.”

Blan said he offered to buy the company from Western Wats, but representatives scoffed at the idea.

Stacey Jenkins, corporate council for Western Wats, said the closing was the “unenviable result of diminishing business clients.” He said the company evaluated the performance of all of its call centers, and the decision was made to close its Thatcher location, effective immediately.

Western Wats’ only other call center in Arizona, its Casa Grande location, has performed “phenomenally well” and will remain open, according to Jenkins.

Graham County Chamber of Commerce Director Sheldon Miller said he was surprised to learn the news and was saddened by the loss of so many part-time jobs.

“It’s horrible,” he said. “It’s just a real shock. It’s not something we want to have happen here.”

Blan said some of the employees were dropped off for work before they found out they no longer had a job. He said many continued to arrive for work throughout the day – not receiving the news until reading the sign on the door.