For more than a dozen years, Jim Curley's Mountain Music Shoppe was an acoustic oasis in Johnson County; not just a place where people bought instruments but got together in picking sessions and attended intimate concerts by renowned folk musicians, from Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart to Tommy Ramone. The store was the center of a wide, local musical community.
The shoppe is no more.
This past Wednesday, Kansas IRS officials seized everything inside the store. Curley owed back taxes. He was working to pay them. "I was on a payment plan, I thought I was doing good, things were going great with the business," he told me over the phone this morning from inside his empty store. But that wasn't enough for the Man.
Curley says that lots of small businesses like his that were paying off back taxes are now being seized. "In this economy, small businesses are going to be dropping right and left," says Curley.
Once the dust settles, Curley hopes to merge his experience with another store in the area, managing or even creating a folk department wherever he lands. "I'm gonna go where I need to go -- I gotta make a living -- but I'm hoping to remain in Kansas City," he says.
In the meantime, Curley is faced with sorting out the mess caused by the state seizing other people's items that were on consignment, items that were on layaway, tickets that had been purchased for upcoming shows that are now canceled, and so forth.
Curley wants anyone with unfinished business to feel free to call his cell phone at 913-645-5067. He says his phone is his lifeline right now. "I'm here," he says. "I'm not trying to run from anybody."
"I got issues, and I want people to know that I'm honest."
-- Jason Harper
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145k into 5 years is 2,000 a month.. That is being taxed too high!!!! Easy to pay if your a mega store. but this was a store with values. a glue to the community. killed by GREED!!
Not back sales taxes!! Taxes for doing business in this country, sales taxes are just a small part.. taxes of 2,000 a month is too much, considering rent on building and the business bills must be paid.. He got screwed by the man.. Only mega giants can survive.
Jim wasn't the most honest person as he led folks to believe. I bought a dobro from him,, with the understanding that if it sounded exactly as the dobo I already had, that I could recieve a full refund in cash. That suited me just fine. I agreed to bring it back within 3 days. I lived 100 miles away from his store. His Momma did his books for him..It sounded like my other, I brought it back within 3 days, he refused to give my money back. Then told me he'd give me store credit instead. That wasn;t our agreement. So I bought something else, but still had $250.00 left, so he said I could use the rest of the credit later on. Months went buy, then when I did show up at his store, he said I waited to long to use the credit and I deserved nothing. Is this being honest ?? I didn't know money looses value after a time goes by.. He is really a good talker folks !!! ....... Victorio
Curly, just found out what happened to your wonderful shop thanks to the IRS and State of Kansas. Well from one banjo player to another, the $15,000.00 that you borrowed from me is now considered "Paid in Full".
You no longer have an outstanding debt with me.
Darrel the weed picker from Aurora, Illinois.
KCCOOL, Jim's daughter has always been in public school. Public school is free. No need to use his daughter as his excuse not to pay his bills.
This is really sad. The only people who do not have to pay their taxes is the guy who runs the IRS! Or those who get selected for a presidential appointment.
You always owe sales tax, regardless of if you make a profit. It's paid by the customer at the time of the sale. Your income tax liability is determined by profit.
My understanding is that Jim's daughter had some problems and was in a very expensive school for them. I believe the choice was to pay the taxes or get his daughter the care she needed and deal with the taxman later.
Hi Jim, I am working again in Blue Springs and was looking foreward to visiting.I was sorry to hear the bad news. I hope you are doing well.
I'm very sorry to hear about this. He's a great guy.
Re taxes: he may not have owed taxes if his business was not turning any profit from 2001-6
Looking for Lessons for a child to learn to play Ukulele. Overland park area. Having a hard time finding a place.
Thanks
He owed sales tax to the IRS meaning he charged sales tax from his customers and instead of passing that along to the government he kept it for himself out of pure greed. Get a grip on reality people he his not a martyr he is a thief!
You know my wife taught summer school one year she was paid 800.dollars we forgot to turn in the w 2 at the end of the year .That june we got a notice from the irs .By the time we got the penalies and all it took all the 800.dollars .This was an honest mistake .I thought that was too much .It gave them a licence to steal from us .Neil
Hi Curleys, I was wondering if something was up, so I googled your shop name, and found this distressing news. So sad to hear this, you will be in our prayers. I am going to write off what you owed us, you can forget about having to pay it, you'll have enough trouble with the government. I have known you for many years, and you have been a blessing.
May the Lord bless thee and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Chris Foss
Songbird Dulcimers
Seeing as how the I-R-S is I-L-L-E-G-A-L, and seeing as how Mr. Curley brought something to this town that doesn't exsist anywhere else in the whole metro, I AM ASTOUNDED and FURIOUS with our insanely ridiculous system. Nothing but love to you and your family, Jim. As said before, your kindness and love for music will once again grace and bless our community.
To bad you ain't no Senator or you could just say your really reeeeealyyy sorry and get your Federal Appointment. You will rise again and from what I knew of you the music was in your soul and you can't help but follow its trail. I will buy from you again because you are as honest as they come.
For you who posted comments like, "...that is what happens when you don't pay your taxes" and "DOR and IRS don't seize property when you are making payments...
First, you obviously have never been in business for yourself and second have no idea about how the DOR and IRS work. They are little people with big power and will get aggressive at a drop of the hat even if arrangements are in the works.
Also, the original debt is only a fraction of the total owed. It wouldn't surprise me if the actual debt is under $50K but they add on penalties and interest at rates that are so high that it is illegal for any entity other than the IRS or DOR to charge.
Any idea what store he may be trying to merge his experience with? im so sorry to hear what happened. there was no place like the mountian music shoppe!
I am bummed and a bit angry. I've picked up the banjo and the fiddle and the ukulele from instruments I've found here. Mike saved my guitar once, too.
Surely the soul in a community is worth more than back taxes.
Mountain music shoppe was a haven for me without Jim i would have never picked up the banjo. He was a great man and i hate to see this happen to him.
This is just too sad. I'll miss the Shoppe but I'm REALLY gonna miss the PARLOUR. Jim brought more worthwhile, family suitable entertainment to this town than any other venue. Period.
Well let's look at some facts; he owed $145,000 for not paying taxes from 2001-2006, also, according to the state 'after several unsuccessful collection attempts or lack of response from the taxpayer, the department is forced to take aggressive warrant execution action'.
If you're making the payments you're not going to have this happen. Looks to me like someone's trying to put lipstick on a pig.
Seems to me the Pitch could use a few lessons in reporting - it's not that hard to find out how much was owed and why things were seized.
Well, gosh, I guess when you don't pay your taxes bad things happen. Who knew?
Jim:
We are so sorry for this horrible event. You and your family are in our prayers. Whatever happens next, wherever you may land, may God's love surround you, God's strong arms uphold you, and the warm thoughts of your friends give you hope. Your bright eyes and your enthusiasm for good (mountain) music have blessed us -- and all who have known you! May the rest of the new year be much better than this!
SHALOM! Mary Catherine and Lynn
Jim is a great man, and we cannot watch this happen to him without trying to set it right. Musicians, if you're listening, please help!
It is the little rift within the lute,
That by and by will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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