Embattled Dot1Web founder Bob DeMaio may to be headed into the restaurant business. A toll-free phone number posted to obtain information on a proposed chain of Mexican restaurants, Freshicans Mexican Grill, was confirmed to be DeMaio's cell phone number.
He has denied any participation in the venture, other than as a consultant.
"It's not my business; I'm just helping some people look into the plausibility," he said.
Former Dot1Web employee Pat Ross said DeMaio's refusal to pay his former employees has him puzzled by this newest venture.
"If he can't pay rent in a house or an apartment, how is he going to manage a restaurant?" Ross asked. "It is funny to me that Bob can buy a new Humvee, but he can't pay his bills, and now a restaurant? Give me a break."
This isn't DeMaio's first venture into the food business, Ross said.
"I believe he owned a restaurant called Yucatan Fresh in South Lake Tahoe," he said. "And I heard he was looking for investors in the business in the San Jose area."
Nevada State Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek said he is attempting to seize DeMaio's assets, but has failed to serve him with court orders because he is unable to locate him.
"He doesn't appear to be living in Incline Village," Tanchek said. "I've heard rumors he's living in Genoa, but that hasn't been confirmed."
DeMaio said he hasn't been avoiding the labor commission.
"If they want to serve me, they know where I am," he said.
DeMaio has had an eviction notice attached to his residence on Pat Court in Incline, and, according to Constable Joe Kubo, and this isn't the first time.
"I served the same residence in February, and Mr. DeMaio was able to come up with the money he owed," Kubo said. "But again, he's behind, so I served another (eviction notice) this month."
This has happened at another address DeMaio occupied in Incline, according to court records, but was solved when DeMaio came up with the money.
"I would be curious to see if Mr. DeMaio was getting investors for some business," Kubo said. "The money he comes up with has to come from somewhere."
DeMaio has blamed Nevada Security Bank for his financial woes, claiming it failed to credit his account, which resulted in bounced checks and unpaid debts.
He said he has filed suit against the bank because of pending litigation that has defaulted on his court order to start paying money owed to the former employees.
DeMaio said it was the receiver of his former company, Lowestbids.com, that has not paid the debt. He said he has hired a lawyer to sue Lowestbids.com.
"This whole thing is their fault, and I can't wait for it to come out in court," DeMaio said.
