The federal government filed suit Thursday against Uptown restaurateur Kim Bartmann seeking permission to seize her St. Louis Park home for nonpayment of more than $100,000 in employment taxes.
Bartmann is the owner of Bryant-Lake Bowl and Cafe Barbette in Uptown as well as the Red Stag Supperclub in northeast Minneapolis.
She said Thursday that she had not been served with court papers in connection with the tax case and declined to comment.
In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, the government said Bartmann had not paid employment taxes for periods ending June 30, 2002, through March 31, 2003, for Cafe Wyrd, Inc.
Bartmann opened Cafe Wyrd on Lake Street in 1991 but converted the establishment to Cafe Barbette in 2001. Another business headed by Bartmann, Granada Inc., did not pay employment taxes during the period ending June 30, 2002, the court filings said.
The court documents said Bartmann received, but did not respond to, notices asking for the taxes to be paid.
The government said that as of Nov. 3, 2008, Bartman owed taxes and penalties of about $110,000, and that additional penalties and interest continue to accrue on that total.
The court filing said the Internal Revenue Service has been unable to satisfy the unpaid tax liabilities from assets other than Bartmann's home.
SUSAN FEYDER
