RICHMOND, Va. — The Greek Taverna welcomes guests with a family wall of pictures near the front entrance, encapsulating decades’ worth of memories.
Toula Panos grew up in the Richmond restaurant, which was once owned by her parents dating back to the 1970s.
“I remember sitting in the office watching Wheel of Fortune while my parents have a line going out the door,” Panos recalled.
So, when Panos took over the family establishment in 2017, it was a dream come true.
“Thinking one day, I’m going to own the restaurant, and here we are,” Toula said. “And then I tell my mom, ‘The city is screwing me.’”
But right now, Panos is facing a problem that may sound familiar.
Last month, she received a surprising notice from the City of Richmond, alerting her that she owed $19,000 in delinquent meals tax payments.
It was the first time Panos had ever heard of an apparent issue on the restaurant’s account.
WTVR“That’s scary,” she said. “And I’m sitting here thinking I’ve been paying my taxes the whole time, and I have, and I’m confident with my accountant that we have.”