POULSBO — The Dawson family said they were compelled to sell their building at 18932 Front St. because the tenant, Voodiez Dining & Cheer, was consistently late on rent for most of the five years it occupied the site.
The business and building were in receivership for several years. Heath Dawson, who managed the building for his father, Michael Dawson, said Voodiez owes about $15,000 in back rent. He said the monthly rent was about $3,200, plus triple net — an additional amount to cover real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance.
Voodiez owner Rick Waltenburg could not be contacted for comment; a number listed as his is no longer in service. But two days after the business closed, a woman answered the door at the shuttered restaurant and said Voodiez had no plans to reopen elsewhere. “It’s not a bad thing,” she said of closing. “It just happens.”
Voodiez had posted a notice in the window and on the door stating that as of May 23, the business was closed because its building lease was not renewed. The Dawsons said the decision to not renew Voodiez’s lease was made by the new owner.
Michael E. Dawson bought the building on Sept. 7, 2005 for $375,000, according to county assessor’s records. He would not disclose the price the new owner paid for it. The building, at 18932 Front St., was built in 1918 and has 2,410 square feet of space. “We would have wanted to keep it. It was a great investment,” Heath Dawson said.
According to assessor’s records, some $8,349.89 in property taxes were owed on the property, of which $2,265.46 was delinquent. Michael Dawson said the taxes were to be paid by the bank after the sale. He said he does not owe back taxes.
If Voodiez was having trouble making ends meet, it might have been compounded by a jump in taxes for the site. Assessed value more than doubled from $202,280 in 2011 to $462,640 in 2012. Annual taxes also doubled during that time, from $2,263.46 to $5,484.08, according to assessor’s records.
Voodiez was known for its Texas-style barbecue, trivia nights and specials. Online reviews were mixed — thumbs up for great appetizers, “decent menu” and average prices, knocks for “average bar food,” weak drinks and iffy service. It was ranked 26 of 49 Poulsbo restaurants on TripAdviser.com.
