Public Square Coffee’s La Mesa location abruptly shut its doors over the weekend after employees took to the sidewalk with picket signs, alleging unpaid wages for weeks. Former staffers say multiple March paychecks were delayed and that some workers were still owed roughly $1,500 each when the cafe closed.
Workers who spoke to reporters say the closure followed growing tensions over late pay. They say they confronted management during a protest outside the shop and that promised payments kept getting pushed back. As reported by FOX 5 San Diego, former employees Justin Taylor and Noah Bollow described paychecks being delayed multiple times through March and said ownership told staff the company was in financial trouble.
Closure Notice and Picket at the La Mesa Storefront
The shop posted an Instagram message announcing it was temporarily closed while it made “organizational changes,” and its business listing was updated to show the La Mesa location as temporarily closed, according to SanDiegoVille. Photos from the weekend showed a small group gathered outside, holding signs accusing the cafe of not paying workers.
At the same time, the company’s online ordering page lists its downtown San Diego outpost at 550 West C Street as closed, while the La Mesa menu entry remains active. Public Square Coffee confirms the La Mesa address on its ordering platform and shows the downtown location marked closed.
Owners’ Statement and Outreach Attempts
According to the report, Judah Henderson and Alexis Dumeng-Henderson identified themselves as shareholders and former operators and provided a lengthy written statement outlining their views on Public Square’s financial situation. FOX 5 San Diego also reported that multiple attempts to reach Public Square since last Saturday have been unsuccessful, while owners say they are taking organizational steps as they work to sort out the company’s finances.
Worker Options and Next Steps
Employees who believe they are owed wages can file a claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s office. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement explains how to submit a wage claim online or by mail and what documentation to gather. The state agency notes that wage claims start a process that may lead to a settlement conference or hearing to determine whether wages are owed and to order payment where appropriate, per the California Department of Industrial Relations…