City liquor license up for auction

[njriverman]

City liquor license up for auction
Sunday, February 17, 2008
WOODBURY - The liquor license associated with a South Broad Street restaurant that closed two years ago will be auctioned this week by the state Division of Taxation.

The plenary retail consumption license held by Alessandro Enterprises will be auctioned Wednesday to satisfy $17,950 in back sales taxes, said Tom Vincz, spokesman for the state Treasury Department.


Alessandro Enterprises is owned by Judith and Jonathan Garbini of Salem County. The pair operated Ristorante Garbini, which closed in 2006.

The site previously known as the Homestead, then Cafe Neena, until the Garbinis took it over remains vacant and for sale.

Vincz noted that only the license is up for grabs on Wednesday at the auction to be held at city hall on Delaware Street.

The spokesman called that action a "last resort" undertaken only after "several efforts to collect the taxes owed" have failed.

The state is only interested in the $17,950, Vincz said. That sum represents back sales taxes owed for 2006.

Anything in excess of that amount realized at the auction goes to the Garbinis, Vincz said.



When you buy a liquor license for taxes is it only good in that municipality?

[SAdams]

That is usually the case. Always thought it was. But I guess it's not for the politically connected. Getting them out of a jam with special deals.

Boy if you or I tried that, we would end up in federal court.

This is what happens when you make "behind closed door" special deals.