Star Coffee Lakewood Closes Due to Labor Conflict

Rising Star Coffee Roasters Faces Closure Amid Labor Dispute

The Rising Star Coffee Roasters outlet on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio, remains closed due to a labor dispute that has escalated into a broader conflict between employees and the company's management. The situation began in June when employees raised concerns about safety issues at the Lakewood location, including potential carbon monoxide leaks, electrical fires, and malfunctioning coffee-making equipment.

Rising Star Coffee Roasters operates a roastery and six retail locations across the Greater Cleveland area. Employees at the Lakewood café sent a letter to the company’s owners requesting a meeting to address these health and safety concerns. According to Nia Sabri, one of the baristas at the Lakewood location, the letter was also sent to other cafes, ensuring that all locations were aware of the issues being faced.

Following the meeting, the owners terminated assistant manager Allie Jeswald and scheduled the Lakewood café to close at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3. Sabri expressed surprise at the decision to fire Jeswald, stating that it signaled to employees that their efforts to improve working conditions would not be taken seriously.

The conflict escalated further when employees organized a "sip-in" demonstration at closing hours on Sunday, August 3. This act of protest led to a confrontation with Lakewood Police, who were called to remove workers and customers from the premises. In response, the owners decided to close the café indefinitely, and as of August 6, the location remains shut.

Rising Star Coffee Roasters was founded in 2012 by Kim Jenkins, who sold the business to three employees and an investor in 2020. The company is now owned by Dawn Fox, Bruno Green, Cristo Kallas, and Brandon Riggs. On the day of the sip-in, Fox sent an email terminating two baristas and suspending six others, including Sabri. The email stated that Sabri would be suspended pending investigation and prohibited from entering any stores during her suspension.

At this point, the baristas have not received further information about their status. They are working with an organizer from the Northeast Ohio Worker Center (NEO Worker Center), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting workers through education, organizing, and resistance against unfair labor practices.

Cleveland.com reached out to Fox and contacted the company’s headquarters to speak with other owners. In response, Fox shared a statement posted on Rising Star’s social media. The post addressed the events surrounding the sip-in and unionizing efforts, stating that the early closure of the café had nothing to do with union activities.

The statement also described how a large crowd gathered at the store to prevent the café from closing, with some employees refusing to comply with the closure. Due to the size of the crowd and the aggressive actions of those present, the owners were forced to call Lakewood Police for assistance.

Regarding unionization, the statement emphasized that while employees have the right to choose whether or not to join a union, the actions taken during the sip-in were unacceptable. The owners claimed there was no place for harassment, hate, or intimidation in their cafés.

On Monday, August 4, the terminated and suspended baristas met in front of the closed Rising Star location and served free coffee to customers who showed up. Sabri expressed the group’s commitment to continuing their efforts to improve working conditions without harming the business. She emphasized that they do not want to destroy the company but instead seek better treatment for employees.

While they are not working, the employees — most of whom are full-time — have launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $8,000. They have also created an Instagram account, RisingStarWorkersUnion, to share updates and keep the public informed.

Sabri noted that challenges for working people are increasing and that collective action is becoming more common in the service industry. “We have to talk to each other and change the situation together,” she said.