NorCal Restaurant Chain Shuttered After Child Labor Violations

NAPA, CA — A small chain of Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area has closed after federal officials uncovered child labor violations and imposed nearly $50,000 in penalties, according to authorities.

C Casa — which had locations in Napa, Emeryville and San Ramon — announced the closure on its website, as well as on social media Jan. 1.

“For the past 15 years, you’ve been part of our journey — sharing meals, laughter, and memories,” the restaurant's operators said in the website announcement. “We’re deeply thankful for your support, loyalty, and love for what we created together.”

The closure follows a news brief from the U.S. Department of Labor published Dec. 26 that found the restaurant allowed employees as young as 14 to work outside permitted hours during school days and to operate hazardous equipment.

C Casa also failed to provide an employee who was nursing with the proper space and time to express breast milk, and harassed and retaliated against the worker by reducing her schedule and earning potential, according to the department.

The agency recovered $45,570 in civil penalties for the child labor violations and $3,300 in lost opportunity wages for the nursing employee, according to the department.

“Any employer that refuses to accommodate nursing mothers, disregards the educational opportunities and safety of young workers, and harasses and retaliates against workers exercising their rights will be held accountable for their inexcusable actions,” Wage and Hour Division Assistant District Director Donald Hines said in the news brief. “C Casa Restaurant and Bar Napa’s practices endangered children and raised an unacceptable barrier to equitable workforce participation for women.”

In a statement last month to the San Francisco Chronicle, C Casa owner Catherine Bergen said lapses at the restaurant had been corrected but that labor authorities had made “misleading statements” about the fines and that she had not gotten any notice or demand for the payments.