SPOKANE, Wash – Lacey Neely says she started working at the Costa Vida on Newport Highway in North Spokane since May 2023. However, on Dec. 22, she received a letter from the Costa Vida franchisee Cazier Enterprises Inc., which stated they were “placed in a position where we must make a difficult decision,” and they would be closing their Spokane Newport Costa Vida effective immediately.
“The managers working that day on shift got the call, and we were told to put the close signs on the doors not even open for the day,” said Neely.
Neely told the Help Me Team that her employers told her that she would not only be out of work but also her last check would bounce. Neely’s last check was for close to $1200.
“That’s my rent, that’s part of my car payment, insurance, food, that’s literally my life, it’s not fair to my kids to watch me cry and to be struggling.”
We reached out to Cazier Enterprises Inc. Vice President of Operations Joy Cazier who told us this situation was “devastating,” and that they did not want this to happen. Cazier says the restaurant was initially going to be sold to corporate; however, corporate only purchased the Tri-Cities location in a change of events. When this happened, they had to close the Spokane Newport Costa Vida location.
She added they immediately told employees that they were having an issue with the bank account that paychecks were withdrawn. Cazier told us that they have gotten a lawyer involved.
Cazier says they are working on paying employees and they will most likely have their paychecks by Dec. 29.
Neely says she understands but only to a certain extent, “now we are struggling more than we would have even if we would have had a heads up.”
However, she’s staying positive, “I keep going, and I know that I will find a job but it shouldn’t have been like this.”
