I told you Tuesday that Primebar, the nearly block-long sports bar/eatery at Arapahoe Street and the 16th Street Mall, abruptly shut its doors after roughly 18 months.
A sign on the door posted after it was initially shuttered Christmas Day by the city’s Department of Excise and Licenses because of a liquor violation said it intended to reopen Monday.
But the state of Colorado interrupted those plans when the Department of Revenue seized the assets in the building Tuesday for unpaid sales taxes.
Starting in May, Primebar, owned by Restaurants America in Glenview, Ill., stutter-stepped in paying its taxes, according to Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch.
“They paid some months, then quit paying in October, November and so far in December,” he said.
Primebar closed owing roughly $6,000 in unpaid sales taxes.
“We became aware that some of the assets were being removed, which prompted the seizure,” Couch said.
Unless the owners come forth with a check for the outstanding amount, the restaurant’s fixtures and furnishings will be put up for auction.
Messages left with Primebar were not returned.
Not bitter about Ritter.
Radio yakker and legal beagle Craig Silverman is Dan Caplis-less this week on their daily radio show from 3 to 6 p.m. on KHOW-630 AM.
Instead, former U.S. Rep. and one-time gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez will be talk-show tag-teaming with the newly demustachioed Silverman.
Silverman calls Beauprez “a fellow member of the I Lost to Bill Ritter Club.” Silverman lost the Denver district attorney’s race to Ritter, and Beauprez lost the bid for governor.
Ritter, who will exit the Capitol next month after one term as governor, will be the guest on today’s show.
“We will have a reminiscence in anticipation of what happens next, so that will be fun,” Silverman said.
The Denver lawyer and talk-show host said he had kept the ‘stache most of his adult life, having shaved it only a time or two. But the ‘stacheless Silverman befits a cleaner, leaner image since he’s also lost a few pounds.
“I was up at (the University of Colorado at Boulder) for a football game, and I went by the library,” Silverman said. “I saw the (law) class picture of Gov. Ritter, who graduated the same year in 1981. He had an even bigger mustache; I just kept mine longer.”
Silverman, who recently turned double nickels, said the gray that was creeping into his mustache hairs wasn’t working for him.
“As you get older, your hair changes color a little bit,” he said. “I liked the dark mustache.”
Baby boom.
SE2, a Denver communications firm that focuses on public policy and nonprofits, has experienced a population push with the recent birth of two babies. Principal Sarah Kurz and her husband, Brian, welcomed baby Emerson Blanche Kurz on Monday.
Adding to the baby boom were creative director Amy Guttmann and her husband, John, who welcomed Asher James Guttmann to the world on Christmas Day.
“Remind me to bring my own water next time to work,” Sarah said.
EAVESDROPPING
A woman at Barolo Grill:
“Getting a manicure is like Facebook for old people.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on “Caplis and Silverman” between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
