WICHITA — Crown Uptown Theatre is almost $62,000 behind in federal taxes, but Robert Brinkley says he’s on a payment plan and that the business won’t be affected.
“Our doors are open, and we remain in business,” he says. “We are planning on having a successful future here.”
Brinkley is president of Uptown Management Group, which took over the theater near Douglas and Hillside in 2009.
He says the delinquent taxes are from 2009 and early 2010.
“I had a bookkeeper here who wasn’t keeping up on it,” Brinkley says.
He says he’s fired that person.
“It’s real frustrating for me right now,” Brinkley says.
He says if it were a busier time of the year — such as the holiday season — he would have written a check to cover the taxes.
“We use that business to help us survive through the first three lean months of the year,” Brinkley says.
“We’re just treading water till we get to the busy time of our business.”
He says dinner theaters — and theaters in general — don’t draw crowds like they used to.
“Those entertainment dollars, they’re spread thin as it is. Now we have to diversify and do other things.”
That means renting the space for weddings, parties and other events.
“I want people to understand we’re a venue, not just a dinner theater,” Brinkley says. “Anyone who has interest in using our venue for whatever event, we’re open to that.”
