Daniel Maurer

Suzanne RozdebaJune 21.

There’s trouble on Avenue A today, as the Fares Deli-Grocery has been seized by the state. A notice on the shutter cites nonpayment of taxes. It’s only the latest attention-grabbing sign to be slapped on the bodega between St. Marks Place and Seventh Street: last month a tipster noted that the police department had put notice of a restraining order on the front door prohibiting the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages. Two unfortunate setbacks for a spot that recently gussied up its old-school bodega signage. We’ve asked the state Department of Taxation and Finance as well as the Liquor Authority for information about specific violations. We’ll let you know what we hear.

Update | 4:10 p.m. A spokesperson for the Department of Taxation and Finance said the business was seized today as a result of a tax warrant filed with the New York County Clerk on June 5, related to $218,000 of unpaid sales tax from the years 2006 to 2008. “What we’re talking about here is sales tax that was collected from customers but not remitted for state and local government purposes,” said Geoff Gloak.