The owner of Aspen Highlands eateries ZG Grill and Crust Pizza has settled his tax bill with the state, reclaiming the seized businesses and preventing an auction scheduled for next week to liquidate the assets.

    The Colorado Department of Revenue seized ZG Grill and Crust on May 5, citing more than $26,000 in unpaid taxes. It also came to light that the restaurants owed the city of Aspen nearly $7,000 in unpaid sales taxes.

    State officials confirmed Wednesday that Graham Frandson, owner of the restaurants, has paid off the bills.

    The situation stemmed from a “major mistake,” by which an internal accounting error led to an incomplete tax payment one month and an altogether missed payment for another month, Frandson said.

    “We want to put it behind us,” Frandson said, noting that the eateries will reopen in early June. “We’re excited about moving forward into the summer.”

    Frandson was out of the state due to a family emergency the day the state seized the restaurants. Otherwise, he would have taken care of the payments that day, he said.

    Frandson is not clear what sort of notice the state gave him before seizing the property, but it is something he is looking into. He said he did not see any letter or communication from the state prior to the seizure.

    “You don’t mess with the state and you don’t mess with the Internal Revenue Service — period,” Frandson noted. “Avoid making mistakes with them at all costs.”
curtis@aspendailynews.com