Local business in Santa Maria shuts down leaving employees without paychecks

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Several former employees say they worked hard at Yogurt Creations in Santa Maria to make ends meet.

“Checks started bouncing. people were just not getting their money. and the last check didn’t get to us,” said former employee Elijah Sarellano of Yogurt Creations.

Sarellano is a senior at Righetti High School.

He was saving up for a senior activity happening in May.

"Now we’re just out of money ... and I can’t even go to my grad night now," said Sarellano.

Sarellano and his co-workers relied on the job to pay for school activities, tuition and other bills.

"I need to get to college … I need gas money … I need to pay for college and then once a chunk of my money isn’t there … it’s like how am I supposed to get the money," said former employee West Hierholzer of Yogurt Creations.

These former employees said they tried to reach out to the employer Stuart Grant.

"It was horrible … checks were bouncing day by day … the owner was just constantly ghosting us," said former employee Eduardo Mendez of Yogurt Creations.

"Nobody has money now because of it … and it's just sad that no one has responded to us … still," said former employee Natalie Estrada of Yogurt Creations.

The former district manager of the business did not want to go on camera, said the total amount in wages owed is more than $15,000.

"I was earning money just to pay for certain things like get through high school ... just being a kid you know … and now I don’t have any money really," said Sarellano.

Located on South Broadway, Yogurt Creations has been in business in Santa Maria for some 14 years.

News Channel has reached out to the employer, but did not immediately hear back.