![The marquee of Golden Buffet cites an equipment repair as the reason for its most recent closure. [MARK JUDSON/NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-498783e6-92bf-75eb-e053-0100007f4706-7d27e606.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW—The Golden Buffet at 2680 S. Ferdon Blvd. has shut its doors once again, but faces different troubles compared to past closures.
The restaurant has been closed for several days, with an outside marquee stating the halt in business is due to equipment repair. This has left some residents asking if repairs were due to equipment or recent health violation issues.
UNPAID TAXES
The company has fallen into tax delinquency, according to a notice on the building from Revenue Recovery Solutions.
“All equipment, furniture and fixtures located inside this location, regardless of status (owned, leased, loaned or borrowed) are subjected to taxation and are now under a pending levy and seizure for unpaid tangible personal property taxes,” the notice states.
Tangible personal property is all goods and articles of value in a business. This can include equipment, furniture, fixtures, signs and machinery.
Revenue Recovery Solutions, a private collection company servicing TPP taxes in Florida. has been tasked with the collection but the Okaloosa County Tax Collector reserves the right to seize assets, according to a representative from Revenue Recovery Solutions.
The restaurant immediately owes $943.05, according to the posting. The owed amount stems from unpaid TPP taxes in 2015. Golden Buffet also owes $660.83 in unpaid taxes from 2016, all according to public tax documents.
“They typically pay but it’s always pretty late,” Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Director of Business Collection Josh Allen said. The restaurant made a payment in 2016 but it was for taxes owed from 2014.”
Allen confirmed public records detailing the restaurant’s debt. Hundreds of businesses across Okaloosa County have fallen behind on TPP taxes, according to Allen. In most situations, a payment method is worked out and delinquencies resolved.
Asset seizures are rare, despite late payments, according to Allen. The office would have to clean and sell a business’ equipment, which could be inefficient, he said.
“From my experience, it sounds like [Golden Buffet] might be getting ready to pack it up and leave,” Allen said in regards to the restaurant's financial and health code struggles. “Let’s just hope they settle these debts before deciding to do that.”
“I’ve been here for years and we’ll continue serving the community,” Chen Chong, the owner of Golden Buffet said during a phone interview. “We’ve changed our manager and [are] going to hire better employees.”
These are all part of a strategy to improve the restaurant’s conditions and stimulate income growth to afford taxes, according to Chong. No other comment was available.
HEALTH VIOLATIONS
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation closed Golden Buffet for several days beginning Feb. 1 due to a failed health inspection. This was the restaurant's fourth closure in three years due to failed health inspections.
An administrative complaint from the department is pending, according to DBPR Deputy Director of Communications Kathleen Keenan via email. These complaints can result in fines, license suspension or permanent closure but the department did not disclose what action it is currently pursuing.
The most recent health inspection at Golden Buffet was Feb. 17, and the company received a 100 percent score after no violations were found.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Golden Buffet closes doors — again