The start of a two-week-long strike by thousands of Colorado King Soopers workers meant people on the picket lines and shoppers either choosing to cross those lines or avoiding King Soopers in favor of other grocery stores.

The union and King Soopers have been at a standstill over contract negotiations since January. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 called for a two-week strike starting in the metro Denver area on Feb. 6 against the Colorado grocery brand operated by Kroger.

From Speer to the southern 'burbs, we were always excited to find what was in store. But until the picketing ends — no more.

After months-long negotiations between King Soopers and its union employees, more than 8,500 King Soopers employees went on strike across the Denver metro and Front Range.

On Thursday, workers at 77 King Soopers stores across the Denver metro area started a strike after months of negotiations.

King Soopers grocery workers in the Denver metro area are launching their strike today. We're tracking the development. Check here for updates.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 calls it an Unfair Labor Practice strike and listed the charges on Monday.

On Friday, a judge partially granted a limited restraining order for King Soopers against the union representing striking workers in Colorado.

Denver District Court Judge Sarah B. Wallace on Friday rejected most of the restrictions that King Soopers had sought on striking workers picketing its stores but did set some conditions.