BriteSmile, a high-end teeth- whitening and laser hair-removal spa at 231 Detroit St., was seized by the state of Colorado last week because of nonpayment of monthly sales tax going back to September. Balance due to the Department of Revenue: $4,486.95.
“We haven’t set a date for an auction yet, and it’s still possible for the taxpayer to pay off their liability and prevent an auction,” said Revenue Department spokesman Mark Couch.
But the business’ troubles also included unpaid rent of nearly $100,000, according to the building’s property manager, John Propp of John Propp Commercial Group, who represents the landlord.
“We limped them along for the last year and reduced the rent to keep them, but they couldn’t quite keep up with that,” he said.
The Denver BriteSmile’s departure may be tied to the recent filing by 10 creditors for an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition against the Florida-based parent company, BSML Inc. Nine of the claims are for unpaid wages.
The bankruptcy case against BSML is pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. Repeated attempts to reach the company headquarters were unsuccessful.
Propp said the building’s owner likely will pay the state’s tax tab because he’s “deep in negotiations” with a prospective tenant, and that amount of money is small compared with closing the deal. That would allow the landlord to sell the furniture, furnishings and medical equipment to recoup some of the lost rent.
Free means free.
Because Southwest Airlines is constantly asked by customers whether the company charges for checked bags, the Dallas-based airline has decided to pump up the volume on the “bags fly free” message.
During the next six weeks, Southwest will decal more than 50 aircraft with the slogan “free bags fly here,” with an arrow pointing to the cargo bin. The airline also will tag roughly 1,000 luggage carts at airports with banners that say: “I carry free bags.” The announcement of the new decals and banners came Wednesday during the annual shareholders meeting, where CEO Gary Kelly asked the now-famous 11 rampers to flash their torsos exposed in TV ads to reiterate Southwest’s stance on its baggage policy.
Together again.
Ever since Steve “Mudflap” McGrew was pink- slipped by KYGO-98.5 FM, country-radio competitor 92.5-FM The Wolf has been stalking the popular radio personality waiting for his noncompete agreement to expire.
Time’s up. McGrew rejoined his former KYGO sidekick Jonathan Wilde — who had previously defected to The Wolf — on the morning show starting May 5.
“It’s something we’ve always hoped would happen again,” Wilde, who doubles as The Wolf’s program director, said about the reunion.
He called the hire a sound business decision. “From the business perspective, he’s got instant credibility and instant marquee name value,” Wilde said. “From a sales perspective, that generates interest among advertisers and rekindles that whole aspect again.”
Eavesdropping
at Rasta Pasta in Fort Collins: “My buddy said his new cat is so cute, if you took it to the Gaza Strip and held it in the air, the 2,000-year war would end.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
