Actress Brooke Shields steps in to aid Casa Bonita workers fighting for better working conditions
Shields heads Actors' Equity, which represents performers at the kitschy Denver restaurant that was revived by the creators of “South Park.”
July 9, 2026
It has only been about three years since Denver’s famed kitschy Mexican restaurant Casa Bonita was revived by the creators of “South Park,” but workers there are fighting for better working conditions.
Actress Brooke Shields, who is also president of the Actors’ Equity labor organization, this week reportedly visited the famously pink restaurant to deliver a letter asking for better wages and conditions for Casa Bonita’s performers.
The restaurant is known for features like cliff divers who dive into an indoor pool, for example, as well as tableside magicians, puppeteers, and antics of swashbuckling pirates. About 80% of the restaurant’s performers are represented by Actors’ Equity, which has been negotiating pay and other safety issues with the restaurant management.
The move has drawn attention to complaints by workers who report unsafe conditions. The cliff divers are suffering from hypothermia and chlorine toxicity, for example. Some costumed performers say they have been grabbed inappropriately by guests. And the performers are pushing for a pay increase to bring them more in line with servers.
Shields in reports said performers are paid between $21 and $26 per hour, about $10 less than servers.
The 47-year-old Casa Bonita was acquired out of bankruptcy in 2021 by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who grew up in the Denver area and had fond memories of the concept.
After an extensive renovation costing an estimated $50 million, the restaurant reopened in 2023, and now boasts as many as 3,500 guests per day with ticketed bookings.
Even before the restaurant had fully opened, team members there were working with Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United, demanding more transparency and better communication on a number of issues, including pay. Last year, team members picketed the restaurant to demand better treatment.
Casa Bonita, in a statement, said, “we value all of our team members and their well-being. As a policy we do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations.”
About the Author
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
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