Salty Dog Saloon and Piccadilly Pub Among Biggest Tax Cheats in Central MA

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Thursday, July 09, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The companies in Central Massachusetts that owe the most money in state taxes include a once profitable restaurant chain and a former bull-riding party bar in Kelley Square in Worcester.

According to state data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the top 50 delinquent businesses in Central Mass owe $10.8 million in back taxes. Sixteen of the companies owe more than $100K.

SEE SLIDES BELOW: The 50 Biggest Business Tax Cheats in Central MA

Across the Commonwealth, the top 10 delinquent business owners owe more than $32 million in back taxes. The highest in the state is Alan Mason, owner of William J. Ziaja Realty Trust of Holden, which owes $5.7 million in back taxes.

In 2007, Mason, who created and controlled six real estate trusts that did not identify him as a trustee, was charged with defrauding lenders out of $6.2 million.

Piccadilly Pub Chain Among Worst Offenders

Seven closed locations of Piccadilly Pub Restaurants, under the business name MPG LLC run out of Worcester, owe more than $700K in back taxes. On average, each restaurant owes over $100,000.

The seven restaurants include Worcester, North Reading, West Springfield, Auburn, North Attleborough, Westborough, and Foxborough.

The Worcester site, formerly at 480 Shrewsbury Street, closed abruptly on Super Bowl Sunday in 2012. This location owes the most in back taxes - with nearly $130,000 owed to the state.

Coincidentally, former employees took over the restaurant after it closed, and although they found initial success after re-opening as Picadilly’s Bar and Grill, they too closed shortly after. The former owners of Picadilly’s now owe $111K and also find themselves as one of the most delinquent in the state.

After changing hands a few times (Paparazzi's and the Pic), the restaurant recently closed again earlier this year.

Salty Dog in Top 3 Most Delinquent in Central MA

Popular for their mechanical bull and their paddling, Salty Dog Saloon consistently found itself in trouble and closed in 2013. Known for its party atmosphere, the bar was only open for three days a week as an attempt to lure Worcester’s college scene.

Salty Dog Saloon, Inc. still owes the state more than $377,000 in back taxes - good enough for third highest in Central Massachusetts.

According to state records, between 2011 and 2012, the bar’s liquor license was suspended at least three times for numerous violations of serving minors and intoxicated people and for bartenders not asking for identification.

Should These Records Be Public Knowledge?

Gary Sasse, founding director of the Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University, supports the publication of lists.“I think it’s important to publish the list,” he said. Aside from what he described as a significant impact on the state budget, there’s the principle behind it and the fact that the burden of unpaid taxes falls on others, Sasse told GoLocal.

Pete Sepp, President of the National Taxpayers Union, disagrees with Sasse. Sepp told GoLocal, “Generally our opinion is that this kind of shaming has to be administered very carefully. If the government itself publishes false information the reputation of the individual or business could be damaged irreparably.”.

Sepp shared a report about an Illinois-based corporation that had been erroneously listed as behind in $5.6 million in taxes to Wisconsin and provided examples of three major cities where there had been reported foul-ups in government tax records.  

Sepp said such lists might prompt some taxpayers to take action, but said they accomplish little in cases where someone does not have the ability to pay. “Exposing them to public opprobrium isn’t necessarily going to change their situation,” Sepp said.

Many of the companies listed in the top 50 in Central Mass. have gone out of business. GoLocalWorcester has put together a list of each of those businesses, where they’re based out of, and what they owe.

According to the Department Revenue, all taxpayers listed have been given the opportunity to either pay what they owe in full or find another way to resolve their debt that is satisfactory to the Department. In order for a business’ tax liabilities to be published, they must owe more than $25,000 and must have remained delinquent for at least six months from the date the taxes were assessed.

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Related Slideshow: See the List: The Biggest Tax Cheats in Central MA

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