Delinquent Drink Taxes Add up for Barie's

When Barie's Bar was set to open about 7 a.m. May 28 last year, a few regulars arrived early and waited, as they usually did, for a bartender to open the grey metal door and welcome them in.

Barie's Bar at 342 Center Ave in West View was known for attracting regulars who worked the night shift, folks whose days ended as the sun rose. But that morning, instead of the bartender greeting them, a sign with neon orange letters served notice the bar was closed, and it’s remained vacant since then.

The bar’s co-owner and on-site manager, Dolores “Dolly” Barie, failed to pay Allegheny County's drink tax. More than $34,000 is owed, according to Allegheny County records. John Barie Jr., whose mother inherited co-ownership of Barie's in 2007, said the county plans to sell the bar's liquor license soon to pay off the tax bill and debt to vendors. John Barie said his mother plans to rent out the building or sell it outright.

“No one wants an empty building there on Center Avenue, so we’re doing what we can to get it turned around,” Barie said. “It’s just taken a long time.”

John Barie's mother, Rayna Barie, 74, took co-ownership of the bar after her husband, John D. Barie Sr., died in 2007, although she wasn't involved in its day-to-day operations. Those remained the responsibility of John's sister Dolly Barie, who stayed up to date paying the Allegheny County Alcoholic Beverage Tax, commonly known as the "drink tax", which was due monthly, until October 2008. Then the bar became delinquent in its payments, according to Allegheny County Treasurer’s Office records.

The tax, approved in December 2007 at 10 percent, was decreased to 7 percent in January 2009 after the tax brought in a third more revenue than it was intended to bring in. The revenue generated was earmarked toward helping support public transit.

Dolly Barie, 73, disappeared last year shortly after the Allegheny County Sheriff's department closed the bar in response to a judge's order after the failure of Dolly Barie's company, Derek Inc., to pay the $34,257.04 owed.

She wasn't alone in her failure to pay. There are nearly 3,000 liquor licenses subject to the drink tax in Allegheny County. Barie's was one of about 140 in the county to become delinquent and one of 12 in the North Hills area. C.J.’s Highway Bar and Grill in Allison Park, Doc’s Route 8 Brewhouse in Hampton, the Mason Jar and Whitey’s Place in Millvale and the D’Vine Wine Bar in Ross have closed their doors after their delinquencies.

“I can see not wanting to pay the tax,” says Keith Strobel who owns Drinks Bar next door to Barie’s. “I mean, it’s another tax I’d rather not have to pay, but there’s not much we can do about it now, is there?”

Phone calls to numbers associated with Dolly Barie’s family – locally and in Arizona, where she's rumored to live – were not returned or were met with statements that her whereabouts are unknown. A call and email to a lawyer, Wayne DeLuca, associated in court records with the missing woman and the county’s case against the bar, also were not returned.

The delinquent drink tax wasn't the first time Barie's had come to the attention of the county. In February 2004, the owners were cited for operating without a valid health permit and fined $150. In 2005, they were cited for permitting gambling and fined $200. In 2006, the owners were cited for not renewing their liquor license and fined $1,100.

Besides Barie’s, the 3,300-square-foot lot includes an apartment in which Dolly Barie once lived. The building remains padlocked under sheriff’s department orders until the delinquent taxes are paid, said John Barie.

“My mom is beyond [angry at Dolly] at this point,” he said. “I think she’s more hurt than anything.”

West View Chamber President Beth Schellhaas said she hopes things get resolved soon.

A vacant building is “the last thing we need” in West View, she said. “We want to keep businesses open."  

John Barie said the plan is for the county to sell Barie’s liquor license without Dolly Barie’s consent and to then pay off the tax bill and vendors still owed with the proceeds.

Retail liquor licenses are selling in the upper $30,000 to lower $40,000 range in the North Hills, said Ned Sokoloff, the CEO and Founder of Specialty Group, based on McKnight Road in the North Hills, which provides business services for people who own restaurants and bars.

Jake Lifson, an attorney representing Allegheny County in many of its drink tax cases, would not confirm nor deny that such a plan was in place.

“We have been in contact with the attorney for Rayna Barie, and we hope to have this resolved soon," he said.