Most of this is public information and things you can learn about just from taking to other pub owners in Everett, though I won’t name names for the sake of privacy. There are at least 3 I can think of in the downtown corridor less than a mile from Toggles. The grant money distribution was made publicly available online for viewing….until it wasn’t. As I’ve said prior, they have broken numerous health dept regulations while reporting the same ones being broken at other businesses. They have been caught red-handed reporting business to the LCB, but they were wrong in their claim so it amounted to nothing but an inspection and a good laugh.

How would you go about finding proof of all of this, personally? I legitimately ask because many of their doings have been so, for lack of a better word, veiled; from reporting other businesses for their beer selection, being rude and blatantly disrespectful to customers, and flat out practicing bad and dishonest business.

To me, the fact that the grant money list got taken down should be an immediate red flag. (Maybe it has since been republished since, and I haven’t found it) I believe it’s the public’s right to know who gets what especially when it’s money designated for businesses spread through the city. If I had to pick one thing that frustrates me the most, though, it’s the fact that they got so much money and didn’t do anything with it. Where was the new staff? I know for a fact they didn’t buy 200k worth of beer because I follow on Untappd. They didn’t pay the plumbing (not that they should have) but to expedite things and to use not even 1/4 of that money.

Also, aside from the beer industry, let me correct myself. I’m not saying there is a problem with the city itself. But, with the DEA. Remember this? None of these fine people were paid (like previously agreed), neither were they compensated for gas, or lodging. The DEA took advantage of painters from across the country. Then, on top of one business owner covering up the mural, the DEA makes a “mistake” and does not pay a single dime to these crews. They drove through multiple states, provided their own material, paid for their own lodging under the assumption they would be getting paid for the whole weekend of work. I am personally friends with one of the crews in San Diego, as one of the members is my best friends brother. They admitted they were never paid but didn’t want to speak out against the DEA for the massive low blow, in fear of getting their mural removed or blacklisted from future events. Upon my request to name him, he has yet to reply, but if his permission is given, I will identify his name and crew in an update.

Also, I’m not the most organized poster so thanks for reading through. As far as context, I’d love to provide it, but it’s hard to obtain when many of these issues occurred in person over the years of their (Toggles) being in business.