A popular restaurant in the Englewood dining scene, Garibaldi Mexican Bistro, is fighting to survive after the City of Englewood seized the restaurant earlier this month for unpaid taxes.
The seizure took place the morning of June 3. According to city spokesperson Chris Harguth, the business owes approximately $46,000 in unpaid sales taxes, along with $24,000 in penalties and interest — a total of about $70,000.
Despite the circumstances, the owners of Garibaldi are hoping to raise funds to pay off the sum and gain access to their restaurant. They launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to save their restaurant.
“We’re reaching out today with full hearts and hopeful spirits to ask for your help in saving a place that’s become more than just a restaurant — Garibaldi Mexican Bistro has been our family’s labor of love for the past 10 years, and it’s been an honor to serve this community with the food and traditions that mean so much to us,” the owners wrote in their GoFundMe which has raised about $1,408.
The owners wrote in their post that they built the business “from the ground up with their own hands, one dish at a time,” and worked to make every guest feel like family.
Over the years, the bistro became a community gathering spot. “We’ve watched your children grow up at our tables, hosted countless birthday parties, celebrations, and quiet weekday dinners,” the owners’ statement said. “We’ve seen first dates turn into weddings and strangers become regulars — all over a plate of carne asada tacos or a bowl of comforting pozole.”
But like many small businesses, Garibaldi has faced a series of challenges in recent years.
“The past few years have brought one challenge after another — from pandemic shutdowns to rising costs and unexpected kitchen repairs,” the owners wrote. “We’ve done everything we can to stay open, but as a small, family-run business, we’re now in a position where we need your help to keep going.”
The restaurant is seeking to raise $80,000 to pay off taxes and keep its staff employed.
Harguth said the city made multiple attempts to work with the owners before taking enforcement action.
“Garibaldi Mexican Bistro operated without a license from 2017 to 2022 and has carried a significant unpaid tax balance for the past 2.5 years,” Harguth said.
The city said it offered two separate payment plans in 2023 and 2024 but both were violated. Harguth said the restaurant also failed to remit sales tax for at least five months during 2023 and 2024.
“Sales tax is collected from customers at the time of purchase and is legally required to be remitted to the city,” Harguth said. “Most Englewood businesses do this consistently and on time. This step is about fairness, both to the customers who pay sales tax expecting it to support city services and to the many businesses that follow the rules.”
While the city has not imposed a formal deadline for repayment, the restaurant’s equipment and property could be sold under the city’s municipal code if the balance remains unpaid. Harguth said they are hopeful the business will take action to resolve the matter.
“This restaurant isn’t backed by a big corporation — it’s run by our family, for yours,” the owners stated in their GoFundMe. “Every donation goes directly to keeping our doors open, keeping our team together and keeping this dream alive.”
The Englewood Herald has reached out to the owners and is awaiting comment.
This article has been updated.