COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – What started as heartbreak for Salt 7 employees has taken a hopeful turn. Days after being abruptly locked out of their workplace, former staffers gathered at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Friday for a job fair created just for them.
Smiles and laughter filled the room—emotions many hadn’t felt in weeks.
“When is the last time you had a smile on your face about work?” Local 10’s Jeff Weinsier asked a former employee named Xai.
“It’s been a long time,” Xai replied with a laugh.
Eleven former Salt 7 employees attended the fair. Several were hired on the spot. Others who couldn’t make it plan to follow up in the days to come.
“I am pleased to report that we had a total of 11 former Salt 7 team members attend our job fair,” said Aniel Bonachea, Vice President of Human Resources for Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. “Of those, six received job offers at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, and two additional offers were made for Seminole Classic Casino. Furthermore, two individuals, including their executive chef, are now in contact with our executive team at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood regarding potential leadership opportunities.”
The event came together following a Local 10 News investigation earlier this week, after Salt 7 on the Las Olas Riverwalk was evicted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The restaurant’s locks were changed, and its doors shut for good. Employees say they were left without warning—and without pay.
“When I walked in here, I was like… amazing,” said Cassie Crumbly, a former Salt 7 server. “They said they were going to roll out the red carpet. I didn’t know… but they did.”
Crumbly and about 10 others, including Salt 7’s former head chef, lined up for on-the-spot interviews at the casino.
“I have five kids,” said Daniel Camago, who served as the restaurant’s chef. “All the hours I put into that place... I was working six days when my schedule was five. I do all my work for my kids.”
Camago says a recent paycheck bounced—a story echoed by many of his former coworkers, who claim they worked for weeks without pay while waiting on broken promises.
The Seminole Casino stepped in after their own employees saw the Local 10 report and reached out.
“A lot of our employees saw your story and reached out via social media to one of their employees,” said Larry Buck, president of Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. “We need to recruit great employees… and our goal was to recruit those who were unemployed.”
For Salt 7 employees with bills to pay, this was more than just a job interview—it was a potential lifeline.
“They basically promised everyone jobs, which is insane,” Crumbly said, still in disbelief.
“I’m a single mom,” said one smiling former employee in red. “This means everything.”
For a team blindsided by sudden unemployment, Friday’s job fair brought more than just opportunities—it brought relief, dignity, and a reason to smile again.
