Wash Park Grille workers receive $117,244 after wage investigation

Wash Park Grille workers receive $117,244 after wage investigation

Published on November 04, 2026

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DENVER - Workers at the shuttered Wash Park Grille and Agave Taco Bar, who were unpaid during the 2024 holiday season, are receiving $117,244 in back pay and penalties, thanks to a Denver Labor wage theft investigation.

"Christmas miracles are not always in December. Wash Park Grille and Agave Taco Bar workers spent time away from family and friends during the holidays but did not get paid when the restaurants closed weeks later. We investigated and turned a proverbial lump of coal into a meaningful paycheck this year," said Denver Auditor Timothy M. O'Brien, CPA.

The restaurants closed in early 2025 without paying staff their final paychecks for working around New Years. Denver Labor, a division of the Denver Auditor's Office, began investigating after receiving complaints.

One of the two restaurants' owners has since passed away, and his estate followed up with us during our investigation. The other owner ignored our requests for information. Undeterred, we reached a settlement. Workers will receive full backpay and 70% more in damages. Fifty-six workers are sharing $117,244.

The remaining restaurants' owner claimed they did not have records from the final pay period, but we calculated what they owed because the unpaid workers kept great records.

"Workers should keep paystubs and receipts, calculate tips, and log hours, because unfortunately some business owners do not hold on to these records," said Denver Labor Executive Director Matthew Fritz-Mauer. "When wage theft happens, a worker's own records may be the only proof of what they earned."

If no records are available, Denver Labor uses a worker's best evidence and recollection to estimate how much money a business owes them.

Tyler McDonald was a server at Wash Park Grille who did not get a final paycheck. His complaint to Denver Labor started the investigation and inspired his coworkers to also come forward.

"Without Denver Labor, I would have worked for free over the holidays," said McDonald. "I am glad I reached out to them. They recovered what I earned and more."

The Division of Labor Standards and Statistics at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment worked with us on this case. They also received complaints and issued wage theft findings.

"We often collaborate with the excellent staff at the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics," said Fritz-Mauer. "They do incredible work and we are lucky to have them as partners."

Wage theft is widespread in the food and beverage industry, and workers often earn lower wages. We encourage them to contact Denver Labor by emailing [email protected], calling 720-913-5000, visiting DenverWages.org, or filling out a wage complaint form on our website. Workers can send us wage complaints anonymously. We do not ask about immigration status, and we do not work with any immigration enforcement agencies.

Denver Labor gets results: in 2025, we recovered $2.31 million in backpay and penalties, enforcing the rights of 7,200 workers in Denver.

AUDITOR TIMOTHY O'BRIEN, CPA
Denver Auditor

Denver Auditor's Office

201 W. Colfax Ave. #705 Denver, CO 80202
Email: [email protected]
Call: 720-913-5000
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