Smugglers Wharf owner says he’ll miss customers after abrupt closing

CEDAR RAPIDS - Al Zindrick, owner of Smugglers Wharf in Czech Village, said Tuesday that a combination of late rent payments, the loss of a liquor license, and pressure from his landlord forced him to close up shop last week.

'I had really good support. I had great customers; they loved the food,” said Zindrick, who said he ran the restaurant for four years.

About two months ago, issues Zindrick had with state taxes resulted in his liquor license getting pulled. That caused an immediate dip in business.

'I had people that came to eat, and wanted alcohol or drinks and they couldn't get them. Turned around and walked out,” Zindrick told us. He said that was the beginning of the end for the restaurant, and his employees. 'When we lost the liquor license, I think they all kind of knew what was going to go on,” he explained. 'That's probably the worst part of the deal, is that they're out of a job.”

Zindrick said after he lost the liquor license, he started falling behind on rent. He said that's when the building's landlord, Baron Stark, started threatening legal action.

'I was behind a little bit on my rent,” said Zindrick. 'I paid up after Houby Days, and then I had some back rent to pay.”

Zindrick said he never received an eviction notice, but the pressure became too much to handle. He announced on the Smugglers Wharf Facebook page last week that it was time to close, with a message that simply read, ‘thanks for the memories.'

'I am 60 years old, got some health issues, and couldn't take it anymore,” Zindrick said.

We spoke with Baron Stark over the phone on Tuesday. He said the property will remain locked up until he can repair damage both inside and out. 'It's just very dirty. So, once we get that cleaned up, it will probably be a few months before we can get it back up to condition to rent again,” Stark told us.

Zindrick said equipment he owns is still inside the restaurant, but Stark declined to comment on that, saying it's part of ongoing litigation.

'We're trying to recover for the damages to the building, and also the back rent,” said Stark.

l Comments: (319) 368-8863; brady.smith@kcrg.com