Signage at the Wash Park Grille on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Justin Wingerter/BusinessDen)
Wash Park Grille, a mainstay along South Gaylord Street since 1997, was seized by the city on Wednesday for not paying $33,358 in sales taxes.
“We’re picking up the pieces,” said owner Jeff Estey, who is rushing to reopen. “We’re getting funding. I’ve got people from around the city and the state pitching in because they want to see me survive.”
In the meantime, the city’s finance department has locks on the Italian restaurant, along with the neighboring Agave Taco Bar, which Estey also owns and also is working to reopen.
The unpaid tax bills date back to April, June and September, according to a public notice. That notice, pasted to the door of Wash Park Grille and dated Nov. 27, screams “TAX SEIZURE” in red ink and informs would-be patrons that the city controls the building now.
“These warrants only happen as a last resort,” Josh Rosenblum, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Finance, said by email on Thursday. “ … Before we issue them, we do everything we possibly can to ensure businesses can keep going without such a warrant.”
Wash Park Grille, at 1096 S. Gaylord St. in Denver, is seen on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (BusinessDen file)
That includes conversations, the city spokesman explained. Rosenblum declined to discuss Wash Park Grille further, citing confidentiality concerns, but said, “We want Denver’s businesses to succeed, and that means offering the best customer service we can to them.”
But Estey claims the city’s 30-day notice to pay back taxes arrived when he was hospitalized after having leg surgery, and that someone forged his signature on a city notice.
“They were like, ‘We’re going to lock the doors … We gave you 30 days’ notice,’” he said of a conversation with the city. “I’m like, ‘Since when?’ I was completely unaware of it.”
Estey has had to quickly cancel or move private parties — ice sculptures and all — that were planned for Wash Park Grille, in a major disruption to a “money-making season.”
“All of my employees — I’ve got 80 employees — they’re out on the line on this,” Estey said by phone Thursday. “This is their livelihoods. Some have worked with me for 20 years.”
Estey and Greg Sauber owned the Wash Park Grille until the latter’s death in 2022. The two also owned the Agave Taco Bar together as well as those restaurants’ real estate.
“Greg and his business partner made sure everyone who ever worked at the Grille and their related businesses were family as well,” according to Sauber’s obituary.
Agave Taco Bar, 2217 E. Mississippi Ave. in Denver, is seen on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (BusinessDen file)
In June, Sauber’s estate sued Estey, accusing him of not using a $1 million life insurance payment to buy out Sauber’s shares in Wash Park Grille. Estey countersued the next month, accusing the late Sauber of saddling their restaurants with debt and writing a large check to himself. A four-day jury trial is scheduled for May.
Estey said this week that the lawsuit has played a role in Wash Park Grille’s troubles.
“I knew this was going to happen. Our margins, as thin as they are anyway, and then you get into a lawsuit with an estate — it just keeps draining money,” the owner said.
Estey spoke to BusinessDen between calls with the popular restaurant’s supporters.
“I’m trying to get it back open today,” he said. “I’ve got people calling me. They’re like, ‘We’re going to help, we’re going to help, we’re going to help.’ Because it is an institution.”
