COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The King Soopers located on South Academy Boulevard is closed for the extended future after a possible asbestos contamination.
In a press release on Tuesday, the grocery chain announced that the location currently undergoing a remodel was tested for the possible existence of asbestos.
The company says the closure is only temporary and is in communication with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and independent experts to evaluate and provide guidance moving forward.
The grocery chain says this location will remain closed until it can confidently say all concerns have been addressed.
It is unclear if anyone shopping or working at this location has been exposed to asbestos is or experiencing any of the side effects of exposure.
Loretta Guy has worked at this King Soopers service desk for the past 16 years. Two of her children also work at the King Soopers. Guy said there has been a severe lack of communication from corporate to the employees.
“The lack of communication is a big key role in this whole scenario. You have a store that shuts down and nobody knows anything,” Guy said.
Guy said she got phone calls from multiple King Soopers employees early Tuesday morning saying they showed up at work and saw the closed signs on the doors.
The only communication Guy has had with the company is when she received a robocall (voicemail) saying that the store would be closed until further notice and employees, who were scheduled to work, will be compensated until June 24th.
“I am worried, my kids are worried, everyone is worried about their health, about pay, where they are going to go next, the store, everything. Everything has been up in the air because we don't know anything,” Guy said.
Health is a huge concern for Guy. She said nearly 20 employees have talked to her about feeling sick after spending long shifts in the store.
“A lot of people brought to my attention they were having breathing problems, allergy-like symptoms, and kind of like fainting scenarios,” Guy said.
Guy hopes that something will be done to ensure that her and her co-workers still have jobs and for there to be better communication between employees and corporate.
“I hope that they don't see us as a dollar sign, but as people. They have to see us as people and not a dollar sign because our health matters,” Guy said.
News5 reached out to the outlet to learn a little more about what will happen to the employees of this location, but so far we have not heard back.
Below are two maps showing all the other King Soopers and other grocery stores in the area for those that may be affected by this closure.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
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