RICHMOND, Va. — A group of Richmond restaurant owners demanded their money back from the City of Richmond. The Virginia Restaurant Association said the City of Richmond has accrued at least $2 million in unfair or incorrect meals tax late fees against at least 30 businesses over the years.
The owners of Latitude Seafood , Philly Vegan , Beauvine Burger, Richbrau Brewing , Helen’s, ZZQ, and Eat Restaurant Partners which runs more than a dozen Richmond restaurants like Pizza & Beer of Richmond, Boulevard Burger & Brew, and Osaka Sushi & Steak, gathered at the Tobacco Company Wednesday for a press conference. They shared similar stories about how they’ve been harmed by the way Richmond’s finance department collects the meals tax.
CBS 6 has been investigating these issues and sharing restaurant owners’ stories since the beginning of the year. Many restaurantuers said the city failed to notify them of a missing, late, or incorrect payment and then applied penalties and interest, again without tell them.