About what happened on Sunday... (inspection, fees, current state and outlook) ▶️ Montenegro Tower

📅 August 20th, 2024 ▶️ First of all, thanks so much for all the lovely messages I have received in the last few days from those who experienced the incident last Sunday on August 18th. There is a summary at the end.
UPDATE: Here is a quick follow-up update on the situation: • Inspection bill update...
We had an external BBQ event in the Montenegro Tower, offering hand-made sausages as a test run in parallel to my regular Bar business selling drinks. Someone reported the BBQ event and told the authorities that hand-made sausages are sold without following the required procedures to ensure that the food quality matches the requirements. They also reported that no sanitary gloves/masks have been used to hand out the food.
The inspection did not only find that, but also noticed that my opening times on the bar licence had a tiny mistake and that my brand new terrace was not yet registered, resulting in a huge fee. Luckily all the rest such as bar licence, receipts, necessary items within the bar etc have been in place, so a higher fee or direct closure of the Bar was avoided.
The video talks about all of that in more detail and I put it out because I am simply getting too many messages about the topic and thought it would be good to get everyone up to speed using this format. Apologies if I haven't replied to your personally yet!
▶️ SUMMARY:
- inspection came to check external BBQ event
- we got a big fine for it
- there will not be any more food events until our kitchen is built
- from now on, please keep you receipts in your pocket until leaving the bar!
- its not good news, but life will go on. stay positive and karma will strike those who deserve it.
CHEERS, Chris.
▶️ WANT TO HELP?
Finally, a huge thanks for those who even offered to help out financially as well, I did not consider this option but if anyone does have spare money and wants to help with the fees, you can use this link: www.paypal.com... - if you prefer to do a bank transaction, hit me up in one of the channels below. Please only give what you can. Thanks so much!
📸 Instagram ➤ / montenegrotower
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💬 Telegram ➤ t.me/montenegr...
🐔 Twitter ➤ / montenegrotower
🐔 Reddit ➤ / montenegrotower
🌎 Website ➤ montenegrotowe...
🌎 Event Location ➤ montenegrotowe...
🌎 Coworking Space ➤ montenegrotowe...

[@ChrisonTour]

Hey guys.. many of you experienced or heard about the inspection & police raid during our BBQ event on Sunday, August 18th. Many have asked how I am doing after it and the last two days I spent from early morning to late afternoon in various offices, signing documents and paying fees. For those who asked about the status, I made this video with some detail. There is also a summary in the description if you are low on time. Thanks so much for your concerns and beautiful messages! Made my heart warm to see that we built up such a lovely community here. I am not giving up that easy and the bar will open on the weekend again - just sadly without food option from now on. And also, if you could please keep your receipts in your pocket going forward until you leave the bar, that would be amazing. Thanks!

[@Endless_Moments]

You aren't the only one that was raided. One establishment was closed for one month for not having their paperwork in order.

[@zaphod2]

You deserve a medal for restoring this ruin to such a beautiful place, what a win for this town. Instead they are treating you like a criminal and charging relentlessly for minor mistakes that just happen when the whole thing is not fully finished yet.

[@ChrisonTour]

Thanks for your kind words. They were reported by this guy, so they had to come. Usually for regular checks it would have not been so many people, but he reported a lot of things so they all had to come.

[@willmorris2777]

I have to agree with @zaphod2 Restoration of such a historical and significantly disrepaired structure takes so much dedication and hard work let alone the money. Yet authorities and municipalities around the world seems to take pleasure in going threaten mile to apply exhaustive bureaucratic draconian by-laws losing sight of the acclaim a project like yours bring to the place its in. Whatever you do, don't let nay-sayers detract from your vision & dream. As Johnny would say - Keep on Walking...

[@ChrisonTour]

@@willmorris2777 Thanks, we will keep on walking! It was clear that the whole project would not be easy, but that makes it even more rewarding.

[@derbensberger122]

Hallo, Behörden scheinen Weltweit gleich zu ticken😢. Ich hoffe du schaffst es auch diese Hürden zu beseitigen. Wünsche dir weiterhin viel Kraft um denen Traum zu verwirklichen. Grüße vom Bensberger

[@ChrisonTour]

hehe ja, hier ist alles nur etwas komplizierter wenn man nicht die sprache kann und sich auskennt, da muss man dann eben lehrgeld noch zahlen :) aber selbst für die einheimischen ist es nicht anders, aktuell wurde viel kontrolliert und viele mussten zahlen- ich bin da nicht allein.

[@rodiesz5287]

Hi mate, very sorry to hear. I'm sure you'll get through this and the place will thrive like the ivies on the tower. This is not much but I hope it brings all my good wishes.👊

[@ChrisonTour]

Thanks so much!!! If the business thrives like my Ivy plants then we wont have any more money problems in the future haha. Really appreciate your contribution, much love.

[@johnmcauliffe9847]

Hi Chris,sorry to hear what you have gone through. There's always ups and downs ,you have done so well with your dream project and iam sure you will get to your go in the end.stay strong

[@ChrisonTour]

@@johnmcauliffe9847 thanks so much 🥰

[@yourtravelfriendanna]

Crazzzyyyyyyyyy I didn’t think their regulations were so strict and sorry to hear. Your continuous hard work will pay off and I know how diligent you’re being. KEEP GOING 🎉

[@ChrisonTour]

@@yourtravelfriendanna will do! Thanks 🙏

[@guyferre4588]

Hi Chris, i know your generosity and commitment to your work at Montenegro Tower. Receive here my support and courage to pass through this difficulty. Blessings

[@ChrisonTour]

Thanks Guy, looking forward to see you again soon!

[@banana-eu4co]

danke für die Einblicke

[@ChrisonTour]

Gerne, war notwendig da ich zu viele Fragen zu dem Thema bekommen habe von Leuten die vor Ort waren

[@Kamelot19]

Every setback is a setup for a stronger comeback!

[@ChrisonTour]

Exactly

[@K1TeKaT228]

Hi, there! I'm really sorry about this incident. I've never heard about situation more sadly than that unfair act... I hope you're well😢 (Sorry for the mistakes in the text, I'm not really good in English)

[@ChrisonTour]

Your text is perfectly fine :) Thanks for your kind words!

[@djekna]

Scammers. Glad the community is helping. Stay strong!

[@ChrisonTour]

Thanks! I would not call it scammers, inspection is just following their rules. If they would have to charge me 2000€ for a single wrong line in my opening times for Sunday is another question, a warning would have been nice for the first time as well. What is sad is that someone reported our event just out of enviousness

[@frithbarbat]

Damn, Chris. I'm so sorry this happened to you. What a ... curmudgeon, that person was, to report your event like that.

[@ChrisonTour]

Probably it was just a matter of time until someone will try to damage it, sadly some people have bad intentions and only wish the worst to others. people like that will always be around, I just have to make sure that next time it happens I am safe (like having my own kitchen, chef, food licence etc)

[@yprifti]

“Low 5 digits” in euro? That is crazy expensive fine. Are you sure you can’t fight it in court? Most of things looked minor and it’s a first time.

[@ChrisonTour]

Yes I am sure since I signed now that I will pay it. I could have signed to say I will not pay, but the result would have been immediate shut down of the business, much higher fees and going to court. Which for me would be expensive since I need a lawyer that speaks english/German and they are much more expensive than the local ones.

[@insolitouniverso]

Thanks for sharing. Never opening a business in Europe and probably never visiting Montenegro after this 😡

[@ChrisonTour]

Well, Montenegro is still one of the most amazing places to visit and enjoy the nature. You can also do business here, but it will require a lot of patience and hard work.

[@Phuqarf]

You’ll be missing out. Montenegro is a beautiful country. You’re not opening a business in a whole continent, just because of one small country?!

[@Jonas-lz7ng]

Bad Timing. I can bring some Cash Money in September.

[@ChrisonTour]

[@veliborb]

Don't worry, it's season time, inspection is all over the place, but they will cool down soon. Anyway, find some good accountant in the meantime.

[@ChrisonTour]

Ideally I should have nothing in place that they could report on - I do not want to be afraid of inspection :)

[@ЧервонаРутаа]

I am very upset to hear this. I don't understand why none of your Montenegrin friends warned you to sell food! They know very well how everything is arranged there. I wish you to settle the case as soon as possible and open the kitchen without problems.🙏❤️

[@ChrisonTour]

The bar is mostly visited by expats, and the reasons why they did the BBQ are explained in the video. We learned our lessons from this, trust me.

[@4dshooter]

Hey Chris! Everything will be alright, you will figure it out!

[@ChrisonTour]

Thanks, I think so too :) Even though its draining my energy quiet a lot haha but luckily I have a lot of that.

[@romangrom]

In Montenegro, tax evasion is a national sport. But they attack foreigners for the slightest mistake.

[@ChrisonTour]

@@romangrom well it is what it is

[@WalkingGermany]

sounds sketchy...almost like a scam. but guess theres nothing you can do

[@ChrisonTour]

Well they do have all these fees written down in laws and rules, its just a matter on how they are enforced. I was hoping they would focus more on people that do not even pay taxes (actually , they are shutting down a lot of places currently as well)

[@florin3239]

omg just ridiculos

[@ChrisonTour]

Well doing a business as a foreigner is never easy in any country i guess, but here might be a bit harder than usual still hehe