Diners and staff showed up to Romano's Macaroni Grill in Westminster this week only to find the doors locked and the lights off. The Church Ranch Town Center location abruptly shut down on Wednesday after city officials moved to seize the restaurant over unpaid sales taxes, according to former employees. Staff said they got little notice and learned the news by text from managers.
City action followed months of notices
City records indicate the restaurant's account was marked delinquent in November. Westminster's sales tax office then sent multiple written notices in December and January, followed by a final demand letter. When that went unanswered, the staff authorized the seizure of the business. The city's Sales Tax Division, which handles delinquent collections and audits, outlines this step-by-step notice and collection process on its website, according to 9News.
Company response and chain context
The shutdown lands as the Romano's Macaroni Grill brand is already trimming its footprint. The chain has recently closed multiple locations while it pursues a refranchising strategy and develops a spin-off fast-casual concept, according to Restaurant Business. Company leaders have publicly described a turnaround effort focused on refranchising and growing a sister brand called TwistedMac.
Before this week's closure, the Church Ranch site was still listed as an active location on the chain's website, per MacaroniGrill.com.
Workers say they were blindsided
Former hostess Nickole Farnum told local reporters she had been working at the restaurant since May and found out about the closure when a manager texted staff to say the doors were shut for good. She said she holds no hard feelings about how it ended, according to local reporting.
The company told reporters it is working to calculate and issue final paychecks for affected employees as it continues sorting out operations, 9News reported.
Legal options for workers
Under Colorado law (C.R.S. § 8-4-109), employees who are owed wages can send a written demand for payment. If the employer does not pay within 14 days after receiving that demand, the employer can face statutory penalties, and workers may file a claim. The Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics provides a "Demand for Payment of Wages" form and guidance on submitting a wage complaint.
For details on timing, penalties, and remedies, see C.R.S. 8-4-109 and the state's guidance from the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.
What's next for the space and staff
For now, the storefront will stay dark while the property owner, the restaurant chain, and city officials work through the tax and lease issues and decide the future of the site. Industry watchers say the company's broader move toward refranchising and expanding virtual or fast-casual brands could translate into fewer traditional, company-operated dining rooms in the long run. Restaurant Business has outlined the chain's recent closures and strategic shift.
