After 15 years of serving the Napa community, the Mexican restaurant C Casa has shuttered its doors. The C Casa's website announced the closure, expressing gratitude towards its patrons for their support and shared memories. "For the past 15 years, you've been part of our journey—sharing meals, laughter, and memories. We're deeply thankful for your support, loyalty, and love for what we created together," the message said. The future of its other locations in Emeryville and San Ramon remains uncertain.

According to a statement by Gabe Carlin, the Oxbow property manager, per San Francisco Chronicle, the restaurant's decision to close was influenced by economic factors, the pandemic, and decreased visitor traffic in Napa Valley. Carlin noted that C Casa has been a "fixture" at Oxbow Public Market since 2010, and the news of its closure on Saturday was met with regret. "We do not have any other details about the restaurant’s next steps at this time," Carlin stated.

The restaurant recently faced allegations of child labor law violations, which resulted in a $45,000 fine from the U.S. Department of Labor. Officials claimed that the restaurant allowed underage workers to operate outside permitted hours and handle hazardous equipment. In addition, the establishment was criticized for failing to accommodate a new mother's need to express breast milk during her shift.

C Casa's owner, Catherine Bergen, responded to the allegations by stating that the restaurant took immediate action to correct the issues raised by the investigation. "We take compliance seriously and have worked diligently to meet all requirements identified by the Department of Labor," she said in a statement, which also mentioned providing a "private, lockable room" for lactation to the new mothers. This response was provided in light of the department's "one-sided telling" of the incident, as stated by Bergen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.