Leven Supply, the Wash Park outpost of local favorite Leven, was temporarily seized this week by the State of Colorado after a notice on the door said the business owes more than $140,000 in unpaid taxes, sales-license fees and wage withholding. The closure affects only the Wash Park Supply retail-center location, while the original Leven deli on West 12th Avenue stayed open and serving customers. Staff at the flagship told a reporter they were being paid while the company sorts the mess out. Owner Anthony Lygizos says the problem stems from a former third-party accounting contractor and that the company is working with officials to resolve the debt.
According to Westword, the notice taped to the storefront at Logan Street and Alameda Avenue lists the total owed as just over $140,000 and says violations date back to March 2025. It also includes a "Notice of Public Sale" that would auction inventory, furniture and equipment to satisfy the claim if it comes to that. A Westword reporter photographed the posted notice and visited the scene on Tuesday, finding Leven Supply's Wash Park location shuttered while the Leven Deli flagship continued to serve customers.
Owner Blames Accounting Contractor
Lygizos told Westword that "a former third-party accounting contractor mishandled Leven Supply's sales tax filings and payments" and that the contractor is no longer working with the company. "We are fully committed to resolving this matter as quickly as possible and reopening," his statement reads. Lygizos added that employees at both locations are being paid while management works with city and state officials.
What A Seizure Means
Notices of seizure and public sale are a standard next step in tax collections, not a made-for-TV twist. They give authorities a path to sell seized property to satisfy unpaid liabilities if a resolution is not reached in time. Colorado law creates liens on taxable property and outlines how the state can collect, including through seizure and sale. Business owners can sometimes avoid a sale by arranging payment plans, posting a bond or contesting the assessment, but a posted auction notice signals that the state is preparing to move forward if the debt does not get resolved. See the Colorado Revised Statutes for the state's lien and collection framework.
Where Leven Stands
Leven Supply opened in January 2025 at 300 E. Alameda Ave. as a market-meets-deli concept under the Leven Brands umbrella, and the company has publicly discussed a planned Leven Downtown full-service location. The company website lists its flagship at 123 W. 12th Ave., and local opening coverage backs up that timeline and the Wash Park address. For opening details see What Now and the Leven site at Leven Deli Co..
Neighborhood Reaction
The seizure quickly became a hot topic online and among nearby businesses, with customers expressing surprise given Leven's steady crowds and strong reviews. A local thread on Reddit collected early eyewitness accounts and community responses after readers reported seeing the posted notice on Tuesday. Commenters have been tracking updates and swinging by the flagship to check for news.
Leven says it is actively working with city and state officials to resolve the issue and hopes to reopen the Wash Park outpost. The state notice did not list a sale date. This story will be updated if the department schedules a public sale or Leven announces a resolution.
