www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Last I recall Tony was looking into acquiring and then was said a couple guys were trying to or had already made a deal to reopen.

Thanks for the info.

It will reopen when a truly dumb idiot comes along!! As if having to pay the thousands not paid by the last owner (sic) in fees, taxes, back pay due former employees, penalties, etc. is not enough, there is also the problem of acquiring a liquor license, bar license, pension license (no more Massage parlor licenses are being issued and existing ones are non transferable nor movable), and business licenses, etc. And this is to say nothing of a place that stiffed employees now trying to find new employees- sure it will be different owners but in Costa Rica, just as unpaid taxes seem to move to the next owner so does the stench (reputation) of not paying employees. And don't forget the cost of inventory. supplies, deposits, etc. etc. etc.!!!!!!

And all this for a business that has been run into the ground twice ( by characters who knew nothing about running a bar, a restaurant, hotel, or brothel!!!) In both cases the old sayings - "you don't put a drunk in charge of a bar" and likewise "A whore monger in charge of a brothel" fit perfectly!!

This is the perfect example of the popular saying here: The only way to come to Costa Rica, buy a business, and then leave with a million in your pocket is to come here with TWO MILLION!!!!!!!

As for the two guys who apparently had intentions of opening it, I understand that when they started repainting the outside, the government paid them a visit demanding all the back taxes, fees, pay, etc. The yellow ribbon sealing the place put an end to their plans, it appears!!!!

Just my opinion, but Jimmy next door looks like he could use the space (especially the hotel part). he has been around the block in Costa Rica a few times and knows how things work here!! If he would not touch Scores, it is for sure anyone else who would, better have that "two million"

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

What you say makes sense in terms of location and reputation associated with it; however…if Zona II just rented the space to expand its capacity (bar/rooms) it would not be responsible for all the back pay and debt incurred by the previous owner, would it??

Otherwise, couldn't an independent business owner open a NEW business in that location and NOT be saddled with the mishaps of the former business that occupied the premises??

It sounds like you are saying the location is forever doomed by the last business failure!

Remember this is Costa Rica!! First they have THEIR WAY OF DOING THINGS!! Which are never the way things are done in the States!!!

To answer your questions:
1st: YES!!! The last owner just rented the space also.
2nd: NO!!! it seems like things tend to "go with the building"!!!
3rd: More or less that is exactly right!! Doomed!!! In CR they really do not care from whom they get their money as long as they get it!!

This is not answers coming from a lawyer not the government, just what I have seen repeatedly occur over the last 20 years. There may be ways around some of it, but for gringos I have never seen it happen. Actually I have never seen it happen for anyone!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Great answers BB.....thanks! I'm laughing out loud, but I'm afraid, sadly, you're right! Get the new sucker gringo, for all the wrongs in the past. I'm sure a local with the right connections could sort it out...

Since I was mentioned I will answer
Like I posted in January I was looking into taking it over but,
After doing my due diligence on it and (yes I would have liked to get the extra rooms)
Bang bang is right there are many problems left behind and even more that where not mentioned
It would be extremely difficult if not impossible not to mention cost prohibitive to try to reopen it or even for me to expand
I won't touch it
Just my opinion and that of my lawyers
Jim

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Living The Dream

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "tourist or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Bummer. That would have been a great addition for Zona2.
Has to be worse for the actual owner of the space to have his revenue stream basically strangled by a former tenant.
Nice job Jeff.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

And your source for all this information?

Chilimike, NO really NEW info!! ALL of this is very commonly known info by just about anyone who lives here or has spent any time listening, looking, watching, reading about what is going on and has gone on in SJ. Read and listen my friend and you will learn!! For starters read Lucky 13's post on this thread!!

As for as the back taxes, failure to pay employees. etc. I believe just about everyone on CRT knows about the problems Scores had and the problems with back taxes many other Gringo businesses have had here. And these problems are not just a "Gringo" thing. According to the local news, about 20 business a week in the central valley get closed for failure to pay taxes and fees that existed when they bought the business or took over the location.

As for the two young guys who were going to take over Scores, again, not news! Everyone here knows about them, they started painting the outside (a bright yellow/orange), the government officials showed up, demanded payment of back fees not paid, and then locked the place down and sealed it with the standard yellow ribbon. Has been nothing going on there now for several weeks!!! Basically the same thing happened to the new owner of Bar Poas , but he is now back open.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

What a way to spur and encourage business investment in the country
Some of Greengo's opinions may seem harsh, but on some aspects of CR, he's spot on...this is a perfect example. What a phucked up country

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Thank you BB57, finally some news about Bar Poas! As for the Scores fiasco, it is truly not the way for the government to promote tourism and business with these ridiculous laws that make it impossible to open a new business. That said, I still love Costa Rica. At least Scores got a new coat of paint.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Indeed, it's good to hear that the Bar Poas is open again, and did not have a fate similar to that of the Nashville South, the New York Bar, Joe B's, and Papi's.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

After of ten years of business in Costa Rica I can state that Costa Rica follows similar laws and regulations as the United States. There are alot of assumptions and speculation here. A tenant not paying the CAJA in Costa Rica does not impede the building unless common ownership between the two can be estabilished. If you are considering opening a business in Costa Rica I will help you get in touch with the right people. Like anywhere, an unprepared business owner is destined to fail regardless of the country.

Now that makes more legal sense...does anyone know (Lucky13?) who the property owner is? Is this person or entity legally connected to the Scores mess?

I will answer since I was asked

Jason and Kim owned the property the property has been sold to another party

This is what I know looking at it through my attorneys back in January and having been a brief owner of hlh in the past

The problem is in the licenses

First all the denuncias must be settled there are about 15, then all the back taxes must be paid sale tax, renta ( income tax ) for the past year Caja must be brought up to date then all the vendors must be paid and the employes and the aguinaldo

Then a new liquor license must be obtained and hotel license for a new buyer and since the old owners separated the two buildings they are not grandfathered in as was my building was if you older guys remember my building was a bar for over 50 years next door was a residence when joe and Eddie attached the two they just expanded the grandfathered license when the building was separated they lost the grandfather clause so now the building must conform to the new zoning laws the major problem is that it is within 1000 meters of a church ( which the past admin kind of pissed off by letting the girls smoke weed outside the front entrance as the nuns walked by and staying open till late in the morning) the second major problem is as a hotel ( bang bang is right there are no more pension license issued only hotel license ) a hotel must have 1 parking spot for every 2 bedrooms adjacent to the property and no the parking garage across the street doesn't count.

Also there are construction and safety issues that need to be addressed the major one is the is no second exit if there is a fire. The building is surrounded by 3 buildings so the is no way to put in a fire exit so how do you have a hotel with no fire exit ? Also the propane tank is situated with in 300 meters of a bedroom another safety issue so that will have to be relocated where I don't know, Then there is no handicap bathroom and the ramp also is not up to code there are many other problem I could list but these are the reasons I passed on the deal

Not to say that things could be brought up to date and varancies could not be obtained and this is Costa Rica but the cost and aggravation is not worth it
Jim

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Living The Dream

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "tourist or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.