Former employees of Brick at Blue Star, the Southtown arts venue, are calling on San Antonians to skip shows at the space, saying it withheld thousands of dollars in wages during summer 2025. In an Instagram statement, the group first put the unpaid total at $7,136, then revised it to $6,378.13 after one coworker was finally paid. Venue management has acknowledged payroll delays and says most of the outstanding balances are now covered.
Workers Say Paychecks Lagged All Summer
In an Instagram post titled "Boycott Brick at Blue Star," the former staffers say that between June and September 2025 the venue withheld wages from at least eight employees and that six were still owed money. They say multiple promises to pay, including bonuses, stretched into months, and that seven employees quit after a Sept. 16 deadline came and went without full payment. The group also says it compiled a spreadsheet of missing pay and presented it to owner Elizabeth Ciarfeo, according to San Antonio Current.
Venue Says Most Balances Are Caught Up
Owner Elizabeth Ciarfeo told reporters she is "taking responsibility" for the delays and that the venue has now paid the bulk of what it owed. In an Instagram statement, the venue said "four of the six individuals referenced have received full payment and we are actively finalizing the remaining two balances as quickly as possible." Ciarfeo told MySA that the shortfall was caused by "unexpected operating costs, parking charges and the broader economy" and that management is looking at ways to keep payroll steady going forward.
Who Says They Are Still Waiting
Former employees who shared statements with local reporters include Nevin Fink, who says he is owed $2,252, Melba Sandoval, who says she is owed $2,452, and Baldemar Esquivel III, who says he is owed $692.13. Another former worker, D'Von Miller, said he was paid in full on Nov. 12, 2025. Those figures match the group's revised total of $6,378.13, as reported by San Antonio Current.
Legal Avenues On The Table
The workers say they have turned over documentation to the Texas Workforce Commission, the state agency that handles wage claims under the Texas Payday Law. The TWC requires that wage claims be filed within 180 days of the date the wages were originally due, and the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing federal wage-and-hour rules. MySA reported that it reached out to both agencies for comment and had not heard back at the time of publication. For more on the process, see the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor.
What It Means For Shows And Bookings
For now, Brick at Blue Star is still promoting events and private bookings on its website and continues to operate in the Blue Star Arts Complex at 108 Blue Star. The venue's contact page lists hours and a phone number for questions, although management has not publicly committed to a specific timetable for clearing the remaining balances. Patrons and artists who want to check upcoming events or reach the venue can find details on Brick at Blue Star.
