McCrobie's closed because of tax issue with state; owner says it may never reopen
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McCrobie confirmed he owes the state back taxes, but said he thought he had arranged an agreement for repayment that would allow him to stay open.
He said the arrival of the DOR agents Friday took him by surprise.
When asked when the business at 325 Broad St. would reopen, he said “probably never.”
He estimated he owes the state $48,000 in back taxes, but said he could not specify the nature of the taxes owed.
Despite McCrobie’s disagreement with the city’s Alcohol Control Commission over a Girls Gone Wild party last month, City Commissioner Bill Fricks, who chairs the ACC, said the city is not responsible for the tax issue or closure of the business.
McCrobie had sparred with the ACC over a planned appearance of the Girls Gone Wild bus and an “America’s Hottest Girl” contest.
The ACC, which has the power to regulate entertainment at establishments that serve alcohol, told him they would not approve his plans.
He ended up holding a toned-down party anyway Oct. 24, and the Girls Gone Wild bus spent much of the night circling downtown. In response, the ACC requested him to appear for its next scheduled meeting Nov. 23.
Click here to see the bar's MySpace page.
But I think at the end of the day, I just don't think Broad Street has a "sacred trust" that makes them immune to GGW or any other "sexy" event held by any venue downtown. If you check this out, you'll see that many, if not most historic districts that are still around have been turned into entertainment districts. There is Dallas, TX, San Diego, CA, Atlanta (Underground), and many others. Their old historic districts managed to survive because of entertainment. Retail moved to the malls and new shopping complexes. I just wish the city officials would loosen their noose so we had more choices and these businesses could survive. Otherwise, all we'll have is Chilis, Applebees, and Outback for bars. That says a lot about Rome's conservative political climate, doesn't it?
I know running a bar in this town is next to impossible, but no one has ever had much luck with a bar at that location.
It WILL reopen but I'm sure it will be another person that thinks they know what there doing.
If you have good business ethics it will work, but taxes are as important as rent, and stock. As a business owner I HATE taxes, but for Gods sake pay the darn thing!
I do have a problem with intoxicated girls acting like cats in heat for a camera with a guy behind it who makes upwards of 30 Million Dollars a year of those girls. At least Joe Francis the CEO of GGW is no longer a felon, he was sentenced on Nov 6, 2009 to time served (331 days) and a fine for two misdemeanors.
I in the Washington DC area from '92 to '05 and was all over town on a regular basis. Bars there don't have 'entertainment', they may have a piano player/singer or a band but mostly the people their are the entertainment. They also don't have this food sales requirement, a bar is a bar, and unless the place is a dance club, the places are cozy and smallish. I would much rather be one of 40 customers in a small place than 1 of 40 customers at a place that holds 400 people.
We all know by now that obtaining permission from the ACC for GGW was a publicity stunt. McCrobie's teaming up with Craton was really dumb because Craton has no credibility in this town and has stepped on too many toes to do anybody any good, besides, he had his own agenda.
I don't blame Rome for trying to keep Broad Street and our Historic districts pristine and free of undesirable stuff. What they have been doing so far does not seem to work since there are fewer and fewer businesses surviving. Good bars should be part of Broad Street, but not dingy entertainment barns that hold 400 people like McCrobie's.
I consider myself part of the "nice" people in Rome and I can tell you what we are afraid of - drugs - drugs and drugs again. Encroachment of business districts on residential neighborhoods. Willful destruction of Historic buildings by developers, higher taxes and devaluation of our properties.
If you and others think we need venues for entertainment, then why not build them on Route 53 or on Route 20 where there is parking and plenty of space and where no little old lady will be offended by nudity or body art. I don't understand why the county limited Craton by not allowing expansion of his business. It is not like he can do anything they would not know about.
I believe that we should have more options and I am all for it, but I don't think that an individual that is "caught on tape" giving anyone that might just be walking along Broad St.(including children) the BIRD, should be the chosen one to lead us there. What a jerk!!
There are people in this town who want us all to "tow the line" with their moral opinions and ideas. They want us to believe in myths and legends of religion, and live our lives THEIR way. Well, this whole thing with GGW and Craton and so forth has hit a nerve. They have found a significant following because there are a lot of people in this town who appreciate what they are doing to give us options. It's a free country. We don't need our government controlling our lives. And those who don't like it can just stay away. I'm looking forward to see what happens next...
I assume, but cannot be sure, that this is directed at my comment far below. Obviously, I was being sarcastic, but there was a grain of truth in what I said. I think you will find that towns with a healthy night life are not unrelated to the personal values and customs of its elected officials. A board of commissioners with at least a few members who actually enjoy wetting their whistles is more likely to accomodate bars and nightclubs.
As for putting up, I've already said I have no personal interest in the matter because I don't go out carousing at night. As a property owner, though, I worry about the town's growing reputation as unfriendly to grownups.
In spring of 2007, when Opi's was still the Waterfront a friend of mine from Germany with plenty of Euros wanted to lease it and have me run it for him. He loved the location, the river, the bridge and the building and he was sure we could clean it up and make a fortune. I knew better.
I took him around town a couple of evenings to let him see empty restaurants, empty store fronts, lots of parking spaces and darkness. He decided to invest elsewhere.
I could have probably had a lot of fun and made some easy money before falling flat on my face like McCrobie's and soon Opi's. I would have had the city and the state on my back and I would have lost a good friend.
I don't know who advised Brent McCrobie but I am sure no one showed him how lonely and dark downtown Rome can be. Somebody sold him a bill of goods and judging by his recent representation and association he does not make wise choices.
These blogs are traditionally anonymous so don't chastise us for not posting under our legal names. I am sure your mother did not name you Fudpucker, did she?
I do agree with you that business conditions in Rome appear to be rather harsh. Why can businesses thrive in other cities of Rome's size? What are they doing different. You appear t have a business downtown, what do we need to make Broad Street vibrant. (And don't tell me pink store fronts and GGW)
Montezuma, the fact is true that Brent McCrobie should have paid his sales tax. I think he would agree with you as well. But do you think he purposely did so? If you were in his shoes, and you had to pay rent, utilities, and all the licensing fees, I'm sure what happened is at the end of every month, he simply ran out of money. So he didn't pay his sales taxes and then hoped to make it back up the next month. That just kept happening until so many months went by, the state came in and shut him down, and he didn't have enough money to pay. I know he had everything he owned in that business and now he's lost it all. I am sad that people in this town can hide behind anonymous names to insult, smear, and blast other people unabashedly.
50-50 ratio, of food to alchol. and then just for good mesure, they get to tell you what you may and may not do to attract people to your business! also both charge you for a bulding permit, on which you must state what type of business you are planning to open, and then act
surprised when a group start's to complain about your business. but low and behold these same leader's will take your tax money and loan it to
their friend's on broad st.
This is a time-honored tactic in Georgia politics: If you want to kill something, find ways to cut off its cash flow.
already in a weak job market, in n.w. ga. i really feel sorry for every one who worked there.
the insult's of others, who do not share their
opinions. as for the business owner's i do agree with you. they pay for the right to do business in the city and county. and they should be left alons!they have family's to feed also. if someone chose's not to go into that shop or bar,
or lounge that is their right, but it is also the right of the people who chose to go into that shop or bar, or any business to do so. i wonder just what would happen if a group protested every church in town a couple of time's? is that not doing the same thing to the
people who chose to attend church? sorry to here about your illness.
WAY MONTWZUMA AND VOTER CAN GET THEIR POINT ACROSS IS TO INSULT OTHER OPINION'S THAT DO NOT AGREE WITH THEM.ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS IF THE CITY OF ROME CAN TAKE A BUSINESS OWNER'S MONEY
TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF ROME THEN THE CITY OF ROME SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL THE BUSINESS WHAT HE OR SHE CAN AND CAN NOT DO. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FREEDOM IN THE U.S.A. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SOMETHING LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
OH? I FORGOT THIS IS ROME,GA. AND FLOYD CO. YOU REALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY FREEDOM.