It's Spike TV to the 'Rescue' for Downey's tax-cheating pub

Spike TV is slated to feature one of the city's tax deadbeats in a bar-makeover reality show.

Downey's Irish Pub & Restaurant, at Front and South streets near Penn's Landing, is one of 38 tax scofflaws exposed in a quarterly list recently posted on the Department of Revenue's website. Owners of the pub owe the city $125,881.10.

"Why do business with them?" asked Revenue Commissioner Keith Richardson, during a phone interview Thursday.

The owner, Domenico Centofani, and the pub's managers did not return repeated requests for comment and were nowhere to be found when a Daily News reporter paid a visit yesterday.

The tax-cheating pub and Swanky Bubbles, renamed Sheer, in Old City, will be featured on "Bar Rescue," scheduled to premiere July 17. The TV series will highlight one bar per week in several cities. Restaurant and bar consultant Jon Taffer will help bring the defunct bars back to life.

More than a dozen patrons sat inside Downey's last night munching on Buffalo wings and potato skins while chugging back beers.

News that the 35-year-old pub was dodging taxes caused some eyebrows to raise.

"This is a prime location," said Liz Higgins, 26, who stood outside the bar. "They should be better citizens."

Spike TV spokeswoman Shana Tepper declined to comment.

Within 30 days of notification, the Sheriff's Office could sell a delinquent business property, Richardson said. Businesses were given 25 days to come into compliance before the list became public.

"They've been up and running," said Tony, a manager at a neighboring restaurant who only provided his first name. "They should be able to do what they're supposed to do. The free ride will come to an end eventually."

The Daily News reported yesterday that some of the biggest tax evaders owe the city more than $400,000 apiece, while all of the deadbeats combined are short-changing the city out of about $5.5 million.

To view a complete list of the city's tax deadbeats, check out http://www.phila. gov/ revenue/ delinquencies/Business Taxes.aspx.