Arlington Restaurants Paying Off Tax Debts
A handful of tax-delinquent restaurants have all reduced their debts to Arlington County over the past eight months. But the restaurants still collectively owe the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid meals taxes.
The now-defunct Bebo Trattoria, Arlington Catering Company and Murky Coffee owe $133,825.80, $66,581.76 and $46,240.93 respectively as of July 12. That’s down from $156,330.96, $70,734.58 and $52,949.69 (according to a past Washington City Paper article), for a total reduction of $33,366.74 collectively.
Shirlington’s Extra Virgin and Clarendon’s Tandoori Nights, both of which are still in business, also paid down their considerable debts.
Extra Virgin has paid down $10,939.45, and now owes $72,280.27 — which is still the second-highest figure on the meals tax delinquency list. Owner Shary Thur did not return a phone call for comment earlier today.
Tandoori Nights, owned by the Indaez Group, has repaid $14,048.07 and now owes $18,721.78.
Other Arlington restaurants near the top of the list include Wall Street Deli, Bob & Edith’s Diner, Armand’s Pizza, and Hamburger Hamlet.
Coming Soon: Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill
Look out, Clarendon Ballroom and Eventide Restaurant. Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill is expected to arrive on the scene within a matter of weeks, hoping to become the go-to destination for outdoor food and drinks in the Courthouse-Clarendon area.
The restaurant, which is being built atop the Dehli Dhaba and Subway restaurants at 2424 Wilson Blvd, promises to serve classic American cuisine at moderate prices. There will be a large main dining room with high ceilings as well as a rooftop deck — that is, if the necessary permits come through. No official word on expected capacity, but the eatery’s permit application calls for 104 seats.
“Value and variety” will be the restaurant’s food credo, a rep tells ARLnow.com. In addition to a frequently-changing menu, a weekend brunch service is in the works. So far, management has been mum about the restaurant’s planned wine, beer and liquor offerings.
Construction is still underway at the restaurant, but we’re told that they’ve already hired a “great staff” that’s “ready to go.”
Management is hoping to open the doors by the end of August (Update: late September or early October).
To Do Tonight: Reception for Dogs
Remember our Arlington’s Cutest Dog Contest? How can you forget the spirited, adorable competition, right?
To honor all the great contestants, we’ve invited them to join us at Wylie Wagg Clarendon (2509 N. Franklin Rd.) at 6:00 tonight for a fun, informal reception. Dog food and people refreshments will be served courtesy of Wagg.
All dog lovers are welcome to come. Feel free to bring your four-legged aspiring contestants (we’re planning on running the contest again next summer).
See you there.
Cuccinelli Headlines Murray Fundraiser
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli traveled to Alexandria last night to attend a small private fundraiser for fellow Republican Patrick Murray, who’s trying to unseat long-time incumbent Rep. Jim Moran.
Cuccinelli declined to discuss his controversial lawsuit against the federal government over the Obama health care reform law, but he had plenty to say about Murray’s opponent and the Democrats’ record on the economy.
Moran does not provide “the kind of leadership the Founding Fathers had in mind,” Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli told the crowd of about 75 supporters. But “in Patrick Murray, you have a better alternative.”
Cuccinelli warned of the dangers of unchecked deficit spending and spoke of the need for pro-business policies.
Murray praised the Republican leadership in Richmond for managing to eke out a budget surplus in a weak economy. He blasted Moran for telling MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that “the economy has recovered.”
“The politicians in Washington, DC — they don’t listen to us,” Murray said. “People are tired of $13 trillion in debt.”
Murray said Cuccinelli would be back to help his campaign in the fall. Murray, who has lagged in fundraising, has held events with two major statewide figures — Cuccinelli and former governor George Allen — in the past two weeks.
CAGG: Thousands of Petition Signatures May Be Invalid
With the petition to change Arlington’s form of government heading toward near-certain defeat, the Coalition for Arlington Good Government is trying to slam the last nail in the coffin with explosive allegations of possible fraud and illegal practices by the pro-petition Committee for a Better Arlington.
CAGG, a largely Democratic group set up to oppose the change-of-government proposal, alleges that CBA used hired, out-of-state signature gatherers who were legally ineligible to circulate petitions in Arlington. Then, CAGG suggests, two individuals may have falsely signed affidavits claiming to have collected the signatures actually gathered by the out-of-town contractors. More than 6,000 signatures may be invalid as a result, CAGG says.
The two individuals in question collected a suspiciously large number of signatures in an unusual manner, according to CAGG. Other evidence, methodically laid out in a nine-page PDF file, calls into question the integrity of the affidavit portion of the petitions, some of which appear to have different handwriting for the same individual.
CAGG also questions the ethics and judgment of former CBA campaign manager Dena Kozanas. The group says Kozanas did double-duty as a notary for more than half the submitted petition sheets, in violation of the conflict-of-interest provision in the code of conduct for notaries in the state of Virginia.
ARLnow.com is awaiting comment from CBA chairman Mike Staples.
