(by Lisa Stettler, The Athens News 1985 (excerpt))

"What do you do when you find yourself out of a job because your employer has gone bankrupt?

"Many workers might grumble for a while, then look for a new job. In our teetering economy, they may or may not be able to find work soon enough to avoid welfare.

"But when a group of Athens residents recently found themselves jobless after the Casa Que Pasa restaurant closed, they decided to take an innovative approach.

"For more than two years, a core of six Casa employees (Amy Borgstrom, John Moliviatis, Scott Solecki, David Lehn, Leslie Schaller and Rob Somers) worked together like a well-oiled machine, keeping the restaurant open and functioning, despite its impending financial downfall. Their working relationships developed into close friendships.

"The doors of the Casa were officially closed forever Tuesday by court order following an eviction notice from landlord Mike L’Heureaux, owner of the West State Street building which has been the home of the Casa since its opening in 1977.

"But, it is the strong friendship the workers developed, their knowledge and experience of running the restaurant they gained collectively, mixed with a desire to be their own bosses and to keep an integral part of the Athens social scene alive, that has prompted them to collectively establish a worker-owned restaurant.

"Meetings and negotiations began with the landlord and the restaurant’s numerous creditors, including owners of the equipment and suppliers. A formal business plan to let the restaurant reopen in its same location, under a new name and management was presented to L’Heureaux last week, who is supposed to decide today if he wants a restaurant as a tenant.

"The Casa corporation, owned by Robert Moses, reportedly owes L’Heureaux $7,000 for back rent. The workers want to divest themselves of that debt and have Moses and his attorney work out conditions for repayment, as they reopen their own restaurant.

"By pooling their resources the workers have about $1,000 as seed money. Several other people in the community have pledged loans of up to $6,000. The workers plan to take this to a local bank and get a loan.

"The group must cover costs of incorporation, repairs, equipment, telephone installations and advertising, for starters.

“'The notion of having individuals take charge of their lives and control their economic destiny is very important, especially where private sector economic opportunities seem thin,' said Marnie Shaul, deputy director of the Department of Development.

"Studies have shown, Shaul said, that the old 'American work ethic' is still alive and well, but stifled by the current economy. The goals of the Worker Owned Network, she said, are consistent with fostering growth of initiative and self-determination.

"The state is encouraging 'new visions' of corporate structure and its relationship with workers, Shaul said. Although the employment rate is improving, unemployment still exists, and this is prompting a new look at the previous pattern of the corporate structure, she added.

“'The attitude of the employees changed. There was a feeling that it is your place and you’re not just working for someone else,' Borgstrom said. 'It does make a difference. If the table cloths are crooked, it’s ‘these are my tablecloths’ instead of them just being crooked.'

"The community will benefit from this attitude and pride workers would take in the establishment, Borgstrom said. 'We like to support other local businesses, like the Cheese Barn. Our attitude would be a circular thing through the community. If we revitalize the Casa we will help revitalize Athens and the community. The Casa has been a social nerve center for years. The people here have the feeling that it’s not just a restaurant.'

"Instead it has been more than just an eating-place. The Casa has been one of the main gathering places for the social pulse and conscience of the community, serving as a meeting spot for discussing social and environmental issues, U.S. involvement in Central America and a place where money made is often donated to feed the poor and hungry of Africa and other developing nations."