Home Care In Westminster, CO

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — When 16-year-old Brody Sandoval clocked out of his last shift at Astro Fun World earlier this summer, he expected a paycheck. Weeks later, he and more than two dozen other employees are still waiting to be paid in full.

Astro Fun World, a kid-focused indoor amusement park in Westminster, closed abruptly on July 7. That day, employees received a message from owner Ron Beem stating that the business would shut down immediately, having incurred losses exceeding $500,000 in the first half of the year. He promised final paychecks were on the way. But they never came.

Soon after, Denver7 began receiving messages from frustrated families. “The business has not paid their employees in weeks,” Sandy Rogakis wrote in an email to Denver7 on July 9. “This is horrible. I think these teenagers need help in getting what is owed to them.”

Another parent, Blair Cooper, wrote an email to Denver7 on July 9. “This isn't just about my daughter; it's about all the employees who are now facing unexpected unemployment and financial hardship due to what appears to be a clear violation of labor laws,” wrote Cooper.

Former general manager Jake Roth told Denver7 that Beem had a history of financial instability.

“There were times we lost power because the electricity bill wasn’t paid. Sometimes our paychecks were delayed. But we never thought he’d just walk away,” Roth said.

Employees say they are still missing wages from the June 20 through July 4 pay periods. Roth estimates he was owed about $5,000. He informed Beem that he spoke to Denver7 about the missing paychecks, and Beem sent Roth a payment via Zelle later that night.

Others say they’re missing hundreds or even thousands in wages and tips.

On July 10, after Denver7 left a voicemail for Beem, he messaged staff claiming their checks had been mailed from his Illinois location and should arrive by July 16. But many say nothing ever came. Instead, some employees began receiving partial payments through Zelle only after being interviewed by Denver7.

“I’ve been paid, but it wasn't the full amount,” said former party host lead Anina Zicko. “What he's doing is very concerning for sure, and there's something bigger going on behind it.”

Rogakis said her son, Brody, received a payment via CashApp the night of July 22, after Denver7’s inquiries, but claims the hours appeared falsified. “He worked more than 90 hours. The stub says 62,” she said. “It doesn’t add up.”

Roth and several others have submitted demand for payment of wages forms to Beem and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the first step in seeking legal resolution.

“These young workers did exactly what the law asks – they submitted formal demands,” said Rydge Rath, an associate attorney at Livelihood Law Firm. “Under Colorado law, an employer has 14 days to pay in full, or they’re subject to automatic penalties up to three times the amount owed.”

Rath says wage theft is a growing issue in Colorado, especially among teen workers in lower-wage jobs. In 2022 alone, more than $720 million was stolen from Colorado workers.

Even employees who’ve received partial payments may still be eligible for legal penalties if the full amount wasn’t delivered or pay stubs were missing. Several workers told Denver7 they never received accurate documentation, making it challenging to verify hours or even file for unemployment.

“I don’t have bills to pay, but I do have a life,” said former party host Vanessa Cooper. “That money was supposed to help me start college this fall.”

Zicko, who worked at the fun center for over two years, works multiple jobs and sympathizes with her coworkers. “I just feel bad that so many of my coworkers. I hope he doesn't do this to other people.”

Brody Sandoval, one of the youngest of the group at just 16, said the experience has been disheartening. This was his first job, and he only worked there for about a month. “I got pretty excited, because I was actually going to get paid, and then nothing actually showed up.”

Roth says that Astro Fun World’s flagship location, still operating in Aurora, Illinois, has also received similar complaints. Beem is also planning to open a new location in Battle Creek, Michigan, this August.

“My number one priority is making sure that all the employees are paid for what they're owed,” Roth said. “My number two priority is that he can't do this to other people.”

Denver7 reached out to Beem by phone, email, and the Astro Fun World website multiple times. He has not responded to our interview requests or provided proof that all employees have been paid.

Suppose you are a former employee of Astro Fun World or know someone impacted. In that case, you can learn more about filing a wage complaint by visiting the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s website.

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The Rocky Mountain Steel Band only shows up when there are good times aplenty.

It’s no wonder then that the all-volunteer group – which plays popular hits on steel drums – was invited to the grand opening of Westminster’s Trader Joe’s Friday morning.

“People ask us to play for them when there is something to celebrate,” said band director Rick Henson. “People want us to throw a party…and it looks like this is the place for a party.”

The people lined up for nearly a city block to get into the Trader Joe’s store were in a mood to herald its 9 a.m. grand opening at the City Center Marketplace.

“All those snacks and fresh produce…it’s worth the wait,” said Mandi Simpson, who came from Wheat Ridge for the opening. “And here you have parking, that’s certainly not the case at the Trader Joe’s in Denver.”

“That’s one thing I wanted to let people know about this Trader Joe’s,” said Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally. “Here, you have plenty of parking.”

Trader Joe’s employees handed out snacks for those in line while putting colorful leis on people who first entered the store. The grand opening also attracted two protestors who wanted Trader Joe’s to quit doing business with Petaluma’s Perdue Farms, which has been accused of raising its chickens in inhumane conditions.

Most of those who showed up Friday morning were more interested in the eclectic fare offered by Trader Joe’s.

“At Trader Joe’s in Westminster, we see ourselves as your neighborhood grocery store,” according to the store’s website. “Step inside and you’ll find unconventional and interesting products in the Trader Joe’s label like Mandarin Orange Chicken and Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, as well as everyday basics like milk, eggs, meat, bakery items, and fresh produce.

“We are a good source for great cheese, and we offer a vibrant selection of fresh flowers. Most importantly, we offer all our delicious, quality products at the very best prices,” according to Trader Joe’s. “We’re happy to be part of your community, and proud to offer you unique products and an exceptional shopping experience, every day.”

This will be the first Trader’s Joes in Westminster and the ninth location in Colorado. The store has announced it will be opening more than 30 new stores in the United States in the coming months.

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The City of Westminster is hoping to revitalize its historic downtown by turning the first grocery store into a taproom to serve the growing community.

If you build it, they will come.

"We're really excited to see this part of town come back to life," said Ed Knudson.

It's more than just a saying, but it's also the vision behind what's taking place inside the brick façade that sits on the intersection of West 73rd Street and Osceola Street.

"This is our historic little area," said Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally. "It used to say Rodeo Market on [the front] there, and was the grocery store down here."

Flashback to 1953, and this was where Westminster's first supermarket was born.

"The Valentes were the first people to run all of this, and now their shop is over at 72nd and Meade." Said McNally.

The mayor tells CBS Colorado that at the time, the market became a gathering place for the Westminster community.

By the early 2000s, however, the space emptied out. The city acquired it and designated it as a historical landmark in 2006.

"This is just a unique area, and once something is taken down, it's gone," said McNally.

That's what city leaders were hoping to avoid, and year after year, they attempted to revitalize the space somehow. Nothing stuck for very long.

"There's a lot of just positive energy in this [space]," said Kyle Knudson.

Enter the father and son duo, Ed and Kyle Knudson.

"We would like to continue that community feeling and evoke some positive vibes for the area," said Kyle.

The owners of Barquentine Brewing in Edgewater saw an opportunity to expand their business. They will soon begin work on transforming the former market into a taproom, which will be called the Barq.

"It's a good open space. We love the barrel ceilings in here. We love that it creates an ambiance that makes it welcoming and inviting," said Ed.

The taproom will feature food, drinks and space to relax for all ages, as well as patio space to take in the rest of the historic downtown area.

"A taproom is a place where you can come and spend as much as you want and have a beer, have some food. It's really a community gathering spot for us," said Ed Knudson.

"I think it's a great investment in the city," said McNally.

The owners say this project could take about 12 to 18 months before it opens to the public, which will likely be around late summer or early fall of 2026.

Yet once it's built, they're confident people will come.

"Activating this spot, we think, will bring new life to Westminster," said Ed Knudson.

Gabriela Vidal

Your Reporter Gabriela Vidal specializes in coverage of Adams County. Share you story ideas with her by sending an email to [email protected].

Trader Joe's is a grocery store with a magical reputation. With more than 600 locations across the U.S. — 205 in 46 states, including California where the chain was born in Pasadena in 1967 — it's known for its self-branded products throughout the aisles, from snack chips to cereals and frozen food, reasonable prices and reliable quality.

The Denver area has had Trader Joe's for some years. The first location, on Colorado Boulevard, opened in 2013. ow there are nine stores in the state, from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, with Boulder in between. There are two other stores in Denver and one each in Greenwood Village, Littleton, Parker... and now,, Westminster.

The Westminster Trader Joe's opened Friday to a party atmosphere that included upbeat renditions of rock and pop songs performed by the Rocky Mountain Steel Band to entertain the lines of people waiting to enter. The festive atmosphere was interrupted by protesters from Direct Action Everywhere Colorado, an animal rights group, who gathered in front of the store to urge Trader Joe's to stop carrying chicken products from Perdue...but few shoppers were deterred.

Once the customers got inside, staff (they're called "crew members") handed each shopper a Trader Joe's shopping bag made for Colorado (true fact: Trader Joe's shopping bags, especially the Colorado ones, which have illustrations of the mountains and sporty lifestyle, are very popular and treasured gifts in Japan, where there are no Trader Joe's).

Each section of the 9,000-square-feet store, from produce to the deli to the refrigerated and frozen sections, as well as the aisle of snacks, canned good and bakery, was jam-packed with customers who are already true believers of the chain's curated product mix, and with curious newbies who just had t check it out for while it's brand-new.

Alex Crone, a crew member who was helping manage the grand opening chaos, describes the company as "I think it combines fun and groceries, which is just a crazy combination, but it's worked for almost sixty years, and customers love it."

He adds that employees love it too. "And then the company really gives the support to the team, where we have more employees than most stores, you know, most companies, really, and we have more support on the floor. We don't have self checkout. It's about the people, it's interaction, and it's fun, like we try to keep a good vibe going."

One thing that Denver area customers don't think has been a good vibe is the parking, particularly at its stores in Denver on Logan Street and Colorado Boulevard, as well as in Boulder, is the parking at Trader Joe's. Crone is diplomatic and says, "So it depends on the real estate, where we can get in and all that. But it is a corporate decision."

It's true, that many Trader Joe's in other states have plenty of parking. And the new Westminster one, which is in a strip mall a few doors down from Barnes & Noble, has plenty of parking that doesn't require steering through a maze of one-way spots.

Crone acknowledges that this market has requested a location in the northern part of the metro area "for a long time."

Now there is one to serve everyone who lives in a northern 'burbs. Grab your Trader Joe's shopping bag and head on up!

The new Trader Joe's is at 9350 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, and open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Find more information at traderjoes.com.