Famous Dave's locations late in paying liquor taxes

Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que.
Nikki Tundel | MPR News file

The Minnesota revenue department says 14 Famous Dave's restaurants in the Twin Cities are ten or more days late paying liquor, wine and beer taxes.

The state says that unless the taxes are paid, no alcohol wholesaler, manufacturer or brewer may sell or deliver any product to the restaurants starting next Tuesday.

Famous Dave's did not return calls requesting comment.

The company has closed at least one of the restaurants listed by the revenue department. The barbecue chain has been struggling recently. Sales were down about ten percent for the first half of this year and earnings dropped 75 percent to about $850,000.

The company says prior management reduced portions and made other changes that were "not received well by our guests."