The iconic Denver area Mexican restaurant and performance venue now has a union-staffed arcade. 

DENVER, CO — Workers in the arcade department of Casa Bonita have united to join IATSE Local 7. The eight-person unit received voluntary recognition from management last week following a nearly two-month long organizing effort.

In May, arcade workers and leaders, who are part of the venue’s entertainment crew, unanimously signed authorization cards asking for union representation from Local 7. Workers said they were motivated by job security, fair wages and consistency in scheduling.

“All we want is a better work environment and by joining together with our co-workers we feel like it’s truly possible,” said Dayanara Lopez, Member Leader and Casa Bonita Arcade Captain. Casa Bonita management agreed to voluntarily recognize the members on July 1st following a third-party card check. Lopez added: “Union representation for us in the arcade means that we can be treated with the fairness and respect that we deserve.”

Casa Bonita has been a beloved institution in the greater Denver area since it first opened in Today, it’s owned by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who have described the venue as “the Disneyland of Restaurants” with “Broadway quality entertainment.” Their $40-million renovation of the property was documented in the 2024 documentary ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!.

The arcade workers join a growing movement of other entertainment crew as well as performers such as cliff divers, actors, puppeteers and magicians who have unionized with IATSE and Actors’ Equity Association at Casa Bonita.

Workers interested in joining the movement can head to iatse.net/join to contact an organizer.