Not only has the Golden Triangle's most popular hot spot become a ghost town, eight businesses and a parking lot in the nearly vacant Crockett Street Entertainment District owe $80,000 in property taxes.
To collect the back taxes, Jefferson County filed lawsuits against many of the restaurants and clubs, including Rio Rita's Cantina, Spindletop Seafood and Steak House and Texas Star Bar on July 25 in Jefferson County District Court.
The businesses and amounts owed are as follows:
Beaumont Rio Rita's Cantina, $27,169;
Spindletop, $24,311;
Crockett Street Entertainment, $12,086;
Texas Star Bar, $6,630;
Crockett Street Carpark, $2,236;
Crockett Street Restaurant Group, $2,136;
Eateries, $2,021;
Antone's Blues Bar, $2,008; and
Neches Room, $1,525.
Jeff McCarson, who owns several of the Crockett Street businesses, opted not to renew his leases in early July, citing shrinking profits and recent wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits as reasons why he was pulling up stake.
Only Rio Rita's, Bobby McGee's and Hog Wild Food and Fuel remain open.
The county is represented by Clayton Mayfield of the Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson law firm.
The case numbers are listed below:
Beaumont Rio Ritas case No. A182-134
Crockett Street Entertainment case No. B182-135
Crockett Car Park case No. B182-136
Rita's Eatery case No. E182-137
Crockett Street Restaurant Group case No. A182-138
Neches Room case No. D182-139
Texas State Bar case No. E182-140
Antones Blues Bar case No. A182-141
Spindletop case No. D182-142