AURORA - "I'm the CBI, chief bikini inspector..." owner Jason Bernal told us at the grand opening of his Perky Cups coffee shop in November. But now his baristas who wear the bikinis say they aren't getting paid.
Bernal was happy to get national media attention, including that interview carried by stations across the country, even requests to franchise his Aurora business featuring bikini-clad baristas.
"He owes me about $1,300," said former assistant manager Jenna Alcott.
In fact employees say soon after opening, things started going very wrong with Bernal's bookkeeping.
"There were no paychecks to be found, he said he was going to come up with the money," said former general manager Marcie Lantz. "Some of the girls that really needed money right then well we were expecting a paycheck obviously."
"My checking account personally ended up being on hold for two months because of his bounced check," said former employee Brittany Schneider. They claim at least ten women are in similar situations.
"And now he owes me $900 and has absolutely no intention of ever paying me for the work that I did," Schneider said.
They say Bernal kept putting them off and when they complained, they were fired.
"It's just really hard because you really depend on that money and now I don't have it and I just moved out here so it's expensive, it's a big change and I was really depending on that money and it never came," Jenna Alcott said.
"We did a little research and I guess he has a history of editing his employees time cards incorrectly and having other issues with labor I don't think he ever intended to pay us," said Schneider.
And Monday night, the on-shift manager who earlier told us she couldn't talk for fear of angering the owner, said she too has not been getting paid.
"I have a family to support and this was my only job and I didn't get a second job because he told me he was going to give me hours," said Leah Buchanan. "I've been getting the hours but I haven't been getting the money for the hours."
She said Bernal had promised to show up with a check but never did before she closed at 7 p.m.
Attempts to contact Bernal were unsuccessful and multiple phone messages to his cell phone were not returned.
But we did learn he was convicted of one count of theft of $5,000 - 15,000 in Arapahoe County in 2005 and ordered to pay restitution and serve 100 hours of community service.
Bernal was happy to get national media attention, including that interview carried by stations across the country, even requests to franchise his Aurora business featuring bikini-clad baristas.
"He owes me about $1,300," said former assistant manager Jenna Alcott.
In fact employees say soon after opening, things started going very wrong with Bernal's bookkeeping.
"There were no paychecks to be found, he said he was going to come up with the money," said former general manager Marcie Lantz. "Some of the girls that really needed money right then well we were expecting a paycheck obviously."
"My checking account personally ended up being on hold for two months because of his bounced check," said former employee Brittany Schneider. They claim at least ten women are in similar situations.
"And now he owes me $900 and has absolutely no intention of ever paying me for the work that I did," Schneider said.
They say Bernal kept putting them off and when they complained, they were fired.
"It's just really hard because you really depend on that money and now I don't have it and I just moved out here so it's expensive, it's a big change and I was really depending on that money and it never came," Jenna Alcott said.
"We did a little research and I guess he has a history of editing his employees time cards incorrectly and having other issues with labor I don't think he ever intended to pay us," said Schneider.
And Monday night, the on-shift manager who earlier told us she couldn't talk for fear of angering the owner, said she too has not been getting paid.
"I have a family to support and this was my only job and I didn't get a second job because he told me he was going to give me hours," said Leah Buchanan. "I've been getting the hours but I haven't been getting the money for the hours."
She said Bernal had promised to show up with a check but never did before she closed at 7 p.m.
Attempts to contact Bernal were unsuccessful and multiple phone messages to his cell phone were not returned.
But we did learn he was convicted of one count of theft of $5,000 - 15,000 in Arapahoe County in 2005 and ordered to pay restitution and serve 100 hours of community service.
