ZG Grill and Crust Pizza, which provide the lion’s share of food service at the base of Aspen Highlands, were seized by the Colorado Department of Revenue on Monday.
The eateries owe more than $26,000 in unpaid state taxes, officials said.
The assets of the two restaurants are scheduled to be sold at a public auction on May 20 unless the tax bill is paid. One of the restaurants’ co-owners, however, said the tax bill was a miscommunication and will be dealt with immediately.
ZG Grill and Crust pizza also owe the city of Aspen $6,512 and $884, respectively, in sales taxes for February and March, according to officials.
Reached via e-mail, ZG Grill and Crust co-owner Matt Zubrod said the unpaid tax bill was a “miscommunication” between the accountant for co-owner Graham Frandson and the state of Colorado.
Christina Capasso/Special to the Aspen Daily NewsZG Grill and its sister restaurant Crust were seized Monday by the Colorado Department of Revenue. The eateries owe more than $26,000 in unpaid state taxes, according to officials. They are reportedly behind in city taxes, too.
“(Frandson) says he was unaware that the taxes are not current and it was clearly a miscommunication with the state and his accountant,” Zubrod wrote. “He is resolving (the outstanding debt) immediately and apologizes to the locals for any inconvenience.”
ZG and Crust owe the state of Colorado $20,370 and $6,037, respectively, in sales and withholding taxes according to Colorado Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch.
The businesses must remain closed during the seizure, Couch said. If the taxes are not paid by May 20, a public auction will commence at 11 a.m. that day to sell off the assets.
ZG Grill, which occupies the corner restaurant spot at Highlands and recently played host to the season-ending festivities there, was opened by Zubrod and Frandson prior to the winter of 2006-2007, replacing Iguana’s restaurant. The pair already operated Crust, a pizza place next door at Highlands. Zubrod also has an interest in Dish Aspen, a restaurant on the Hyman Avenue Mall, which is not known to be in tax trouble.
curtis@aspendailynews.com
