The problem with the business too is, if they sell it, it's large and I'd assume would be expensive.
Olde Main closing
- Thread starter Messi
- Start date
It's very common to have you business licenses suspended for this. I have a restaurant client that was 6 months behind paying their sales tax deposits and was finally able to convince them they need to get caught up or risk being shut down.
The real shame about Old Main is that it is the best venue in Downtown Ames, so much wasted potential.
Would love to see a successful Iowa brewery do a tap room in Ames like Peace Tree did in Des Moines or Backpocket did in Dubuque
Ames already has one of the state's best breweries. Perhaps a downtown Alluvial taproom paired with a restaurant could be a thing.
I really enjoyed my last couple visits to Torrent. I think Alluvial's better, but their beer is tasty.
Olde Main was ahead of the craft beer thing, but they've been stuck in 2004 for the last 15 years. They haven't changed any offerings, improved, etc. They've made some decent beers over the years, and helped get me into craft beer, but they've been falling behind at a comic rate in recent years.
I really enjoyed my last couple visits to Torrent. I think Alluvial's better, but their beer is tasty.
Olde Main was ahead of the craft beer thing, but they've been stuck in 2004 for the last 15 years. They haven't changed any offerings, improved, etc. They've made some decent beers over the years, and helped get me into craft beer, but they've been falling behind at a comic rate in recent years.
A few months ago I went to Olde Main for the first time. Walked in with 4 other people and sat down. The 5 of us sat there for nearly 20mins with not so much as a glance from the staff. We eventually stood up and walked out. With service like that, it's hard to believe they would be "behind financially".
I'm assuming that this did not come as a surprise to the owner. Surely, there have been warnings from state agencies and vendors who are aware of the problem, such as the insurance company who cancelled their dram shop coverage for non-payment. That alone is taking a very serious risk.
Exactly. This wasn't something that just happened without many notices and chances to remedy the situation.
Stick a fork in 'em.
Whiskey River gonna be like:
The only bar on main that I got to.
Bit more than just late on taxes. Sound like some of it was pushing fraud. Interesting stuff, most of the time a place would have gone under before this. And no insurance? Woof.
Anyway, the current owners can't have a license for two year AFTER the suspension so these places won't be serving alcohol and I assume are essentially done as businesses without a change of ownership. Basically sounds like they are bankrupt anyway.
They will get their money even if they put them out of business. One way or another.
I think they would be over saturated in a market the size of Ames unless they wanted to close or significantly reduce the hours of operation at the existing taproom.
Does this mean that the property will be tied up in legal wrangling for years? Not good for Main Street.
Or could he sell now and let other businesses start fresh sooner?
Alluvial/anyone could transfrom Olde Main into a wedding reception/event venue and it would do really well IMO.
"Once the suspension is lifted, the alcohol licenses will be surrendered and canceled. Anyone listed as an owner, officer or director for the corporations will be ineligible to receive an alcohol license in Iowa for at least two years following the date the license was surrendered."
Sounds like a death sentence to me.
Sounds like a death sentence to me.
Location would make a good stakehouse or a German beer hall. I can see the menu already. Pork knuckle, roast chicken, various wurst, schnitzel.
Probably no guarantee but I bet the city would lift the suspension if it was a clean break and not some shame sale involving a shell company.
Minneapolis took away rental license from a notorious slum lord up here and than found he was back in some of the same buildings using a shell company. They were not pleased and than had to suspend the license for the new company.
