Beans & Vines, Popular Inwood Restaurant, Seized Over $350K Tax Issue

INWOOD, NY — Beans & Vines, the longtime popular Inwood restaurant, was momentarily seized and shut down by New York State's Tax Department on Friday over an unpaid balance of more than $350,000.

A large orange sticker reading "SEIZED" was plastered to the eatery's door at 4799 Broadway, between Academy and Cumming streets.

"This property has been seized for nonpayment of taxes, and is now in the possession of the State of New York," the sign read.

Ryan Cleveland, a spokesperson from New York State's Department of Taxation and Finance, broke down to Patch more of the details surrounding the seizure of Beans & Vines.

"Seizure is a last resort after a long period of non-compliance and non-responsiveness," Cleveland said. "Even at that point, we will work with business owners to allow them to reopen as soon as possible. But it does require the business to make a good faith effort to address tax debts."

"In this situation, the taxpayer (Beans and Vines) has a warranted tax balance of $352,139.15," he added.

A good faith effort must have taken place as Beans & Vines was open for business again on Sunday.

The restaurant has not answered multiple requests for comment from Patch, but an employee did confirm that the eatery was open again in a phone call.