The ribbon-cutting ceremony was full of hope, now this

Shari Nixon and Sharon Dowling don’t look as happy and excited today as they did at their ribbon-cutting event on Dec. 5, 2009. They found out last week that the landlord, John Solliday was delinquent in paying taxes. The agents of the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) came to the restaurant last Tuesday and said if Solliday did not meet the DOR deadline, they would be back to lock the doors of the building.

As of Saturday, Dowling said that telephone calls and emails to Solliday had not been answered. Since the present restaurant business leases the equipment and furniture as well as the building, that will also be unavailable to them.

As a precaution, Dowling, who has been living upstairs, moved all her personal belongings out of the premises this weekend.

Solliday bought the building in April 2006 and operated the J.B. Clymer’s restaurant until closing the doors. Dowling and Nixing began leasing the building and equipment last year, acquired the name J.B. Clymer’s, and have operated under that name.

Dowling and her family spent a great deal of their own money to repair and paint the exterior of the Clymer house before opening for business and have spent additional money for maintenance of the structure and equipment. Nixon estimates the expenses at around $12,000, none of which has been reimbursed.

Nixon said the papers that DOR agent Alex Sisneros showed them last week indicated that Soliday owed over $9,000 in back sales and payroll taxes. Dowling admitted that they were two months behind on the rent, but that they had discussed with Soliday how they would catch up. She also stressed that their being behind in the rent had nothing to do with his not paying taxes that were due months ago.

Since Saturday, Nixon was able to get in touch with Soliday and she quoted him as saying, “Let’s let it fly and see what happens tomorrow.” If he has not paid the taxes, “tomorrow” is Tuesday, Jan. 20 and the building will be sealed.

Downing said, “It has been a long week. After a period of fright and frustration we decided we needed to move on. We have 15 employees who depend on us.”

Downing said they are looking for another location in case they are locked out of the Clymer house. She said that, if necessary, they hope to be able to open up at a new location within 30 days.