State seizes clothing store on Main Street in Westhampton Beach

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Jimmy's, a high-end clothing boutique on Westhampton Beach's Main Street, was seized by New York State. JESSICA DINAPOLI

A high-end women’s clothing store on Main Street in Westhampton Beach was seized last week by New York State and closed until its owners paid back more than $77,000 in overdue sales tax revenues, plus interest and penalties, according to the State Department of Taxation and Finance.

A neon orange sign reading “SEIZED” was taped last Thursday, May 28, on the front door of Jimmy’s and sandwiched between slender mannequins still wearing the latest fashions. The sign stated that the store, located at 167 Main Street, had been seized for back payment of taxes and is now in the possession of the state.

Susan Burns, the assistant director of public information for the State Department of Taxation and Finance, explained Monday that the store, which is operated under the firm name D.E.J.E. Inc., was seized after the owners ignored repeated attempts by Albany to collect on a pair of warrants filed in Suffolk County Court.

The first warrant, which was filed on March 11, 2008, states that the business owed $6,918.32 in sales tax revenues, and the second warrant, filed on September 4, 2008, notes that the company owed another $70,286.90, according to Ms. Burns. She said that Jimmy’s owed the state $6,918.32 in unpaid sales taxes that were collected between December 1, 2006, and February 28, 2007, while the $70,286.90 that should have been forwarded to Albany was collected by the business between June 1, 2007 and November 30, 2007.

“A seizure occurs after many due processes and multiple attempts to rectify the situation,” Ms. Burns said. “This is a tool of last resort.”

The store reopened on Friday and a man who answered the phone at the boutique that day, and who declined to identify himself, said there had been “an error” and that everything had been resolved.

Ms. Burns said the company’s contact person was listed as Dominick Lepore, though he might not necessarily be the owner of the clothing store. Mr. Lepore could not be reached for comment.

Jimmy’s has been involved in various philanthropic events on the East End. Last year, the shop was used for a fund-raiser benefitting East End Hospice’s Camp Good Grief, a summer camp for children who have lost a loved one.