By James Tatter, Editor-in-Chief
Many customers feel as though they were being kept out of the loop after news spread of the sudden closing of a local restaurant.
While loyal customers felt that the closing seemed sudden, problems began at The Loop Pizza Grill on 320 Stratford Rd. starting in May of 2013.
According to documents provided by the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court, The Loop first failed to pay sales taxes during the period beginning May 1, 2013.
On Nov. 13, 2014, the NC Department of Revenue served The Loop with a civil warrant for failure to pay state sales taxes.
Trevor Johnson, the Director of Public Affairs for the Department of Revenue, detailed the process undertaken in these situations.
“In general, before we go in and shut down a restaurant we work with the tax payer on a regular basis,” Johnson said. “They receive notices in the mail from the department and we also work via phone to let them know what is going on with the process. The closure of a business is the last option.”
The documents provided by the Clerk’s office show that the owner, Scoban, Inc., owed more than $85,500 in taxes, penalties and interest on the local restaurant, which opened in 2004.
“For a number of payment periods and filing periods, there was non-compliance from the tax payer on what was owed to the state from these sales taxes,” Johnson said. “Since we were not able to get those funds, that’s why we had to take the necessary steps to talk to the tax payer. At the end of the day we had to shut them down.”
Lexie Spanos, a Reynolds junior and former employee of The Loop, described the restaurant as an enjoyable place to work.
“The managers were nice and the staff was awesome,” Spanos said. “They’re great people.”
Spanos said that during her time there this summer, there were no indicators of the underlying financial problems.
“Everything was fine. A lot of people would come in. Business went smoothly,” Spanos said.
Mike Schneider is the founder and CEO of The Loop Restaurant Group, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida. The group owns and operates 12 Loop franchises currently in Florida and North Carolina, and was the licensor of the Winston-Salem franchise. He expressed regret at the store closing.
“The Winston-Salem Loop franchise location has always been one of the busiest Loop locations… and one of the best managed in regards to food and hospitality,” Schneider said. “For many years, the Winston-Salem Loop has been well supported by the community. Our desire is to bring The Loop back to Winston-Salem.”
Local customers shared the hope that another Loop franchise could be opened in Winston.
“I hope they open up a new one in a similar location,” said Loop fan and RJR freshman Carl Phipps.
Echoed Spanos: “I’ve always eaten there. It was a good place to go. It should be replaced.”
Schneider hopes that The Loop faithful will continue to visit the Kernersville location near Target at 1030 South Main St.
“I recommend that our loyal guests in Winston-Salem consider visiting our location in Kernersville,” Schneider said. “Our franchisee, Mike Targett, and his family are there every day, serving great Loop food and providing Loop hospitality to their guests.”