Clothing store adds 2nd location

Vert & Vogue opening second shop: Vert & Vogue, the clothing boutique in Brightleaf Square, is opening a second location in downtown’s Five Points.

According to property records, it looks like the new location is at 353 W. Main St.

That appears to be the location that previously housed the downtown bar and lounge The Republic, which has closed permanently, according to the business’ Facebook page.

In their second shop, the owners of Vert and Vogue plan to sell clothing for women and men as well as accessories, according to the shop’s Facebook page.

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Los Comales closed: The N.C. Department of Revenue has shut down the popular Los Comales restaurant locations in Durham because of unpaid taxes.

Both of the Los Comales restaurant locations – one on North Roxboro Street and one on Witherspoon Boulevard -- were shut down on Wednesday, said Trevor Johnson, a spokesman for the revenue department.

A sign was on the door of the North Roxboro Street location Monday stated that the restaurant’s personal property was seized for nonpayment of taxes.

Johnson said department officials are expected to take the property to auction to pay the debt.

The business had only recently opened its second location on Witherspoon Boulevard. And last year, it was one of the stops suggested in New York Times article “36 Hours in Durham, N.C.”
However, Johnson said in an email that the business owed about $185,000 to the state.

“Shutting down businesses is the last resort,” he said. “We work with the taxpayer(s) to make sure they are aware and understand what they are owed to the department.”

Johnson said in some cases, businesses that have been shut down by the department are able to re-open if they can pay their debt. Attempts to reach the restaurant owner for comment Monday were not successful.

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Tour de Fat returning: New Belgium Brewing Co.’s 2014 Tour de Fat beer and bicycling tour will return to Durham at Diamond View Park on June 21.

These daylong festivities are free in every city, but the proceeds from beer sales go to local nonprofits.

The events kick off with a costumed bicycle parade that winds through city streets, ending in a city park with the festival.

This year will also include some brewing education and feature a “Bicycle Revival” to inspire festival-goers to believe in the power of two-wheeled transportation.

Have an item for The Buzz? Contact Laura Oleniacz at loleniacz@heraldsun.com, or at 919-419-6636.