HOUSTON – Several employees at WashingtonParq, a restaurant and bar concept on Washington Avenue, are speaking out about not receiving their paychecks.
KPRC2 reporter Corley Peel has been investigating the situation after employees reached out for help.
Videos of WashingtonParq show an upscale atmosphere. The website features multiple restaurants, art, and entertainment. Mian Cash, who began working as a lead server when the business opened in January, described his experience as disappointing.
“A lot of us have not been getting paid, working a lot of hours and not getting paid,” Cash said.
Cash noted that he received his first paycheck in March, totaling three payments over the two months he worked there. He ultimately quit at the end of March and said he is still waiting for his final check.
“I was literally the last staff member, and it was just too much trying to be a bartender, be a server, do management duties, and then I’m not getting paid for it,” he said.
When asked about the reasons for the delayed payments, Cash replied, “There’s no reason. It’s just, well, we’re gonna pay you Friday. Friday comes. We’re gonna pay you Monday. Monday comes. We’re going to try to do it Friday. There’s really no reason why.”
Lance Murchison, a fire performer at WashingtonParq, also shared his experience. He said he worked at the venue from February to early April without receiving any payment.
“How many days a week were you performing?” Peel asked.
“Three days a week, it was Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,” Murchison responded.
Murchison explained that he remained with the company even after most performers quit and went on strike, believing the management would resolve the payment issues.
“I told them that, hey, I’ll stay and be y’all’s sole performer just because I believe that y’all might be able to get it correct,” he said.
Peel visited WashingtonParq seeking answers but was informed that the owner was not there. After attempting to call the owner, no one answered. The owner did respond to an Instagram message saying, “Everything you can believe. The only time period of discrepancy is when we did mock dinners to train staff,” he said.
“I just want to get paid and move forward. That’s literally all I want,” Cash expressed.
Some employees are now seeking legal action, while others have filed complaints with the Texas Workforce Commission.