Como's
Como's
Como's pizzeria at 9 Mile and Woodward in downtown Ferndale was one hot mess, to out it kindly.
The popular restaurant with a prime location ended a 66-year run, closing recently. In 2015, the restaurant closed temporarily because of unpaid liquor license fees. In 2106 and 2017, the place shut temporarily for health code violations.
Now Kirk Pinho of Crain's Detroit Business reports that the pizza joint had other issues as well: The restaurant had racked up nearly $1 million in state and federal tax liens since 2000, though it appears it paid at least about $300,000 of that debt.
Como's equipment, which includes ovens and the store sign, is up for auction through Michigan Restaurant Liquidations & Auctions beginning Thursday. A second auction date is Jan. 11, as first reported by The Oakland County Times website last week.
Como's manager George Grego tells Crain's he was unaware of the $951,461 in nearly 40 state and federal liens. He said the business is owned by his mother.
Crain's reports:
It's not known precisely how much of the total amount has been paid since 2000 and how much, if any, is still owed, but state and federal lien discharge records suggest at least $299,344 has been paid. The last lien discharge was March 20. Seven of the 27 state and federal lien discharges do not list the amount of taxes owed that Como's rectified.
Fred Miller, spokesman for Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, says Como's is caught up on real estate and personal property taxes.
