Dragon’s Den Shut Down Over Tax Issues

Just a few weeks before Free Comic Book Day, the Dragon's Den in Poughkeepsie has been seized by the government for unpaid taxes.

David Steltenkamp, owner of the Dragon's Den, has been communicating with customers through Facebook. According to posts on the Dragon Den's and his own Facebook pages, Steltenkamp says the store will be closed at least through Easter while he finds out more information.

The Dragon's Den is a popular hang out for kids who are enthusiastic about comics and role-playing games. With most schools closed for spring break, this week would have been an especially busy time for the store.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up, hoping to raise the $15,000 needed to get the store back from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. If the money is not raised by April 26, the comic book and gaming shop will close for good. Eight hundred dollars have already been raised in the first nine hours of the campaign.

Steltenkamp confirmed on his own Facebook page that he does owe taxes, although he's "disputed certain numbers" and is "interested in paying the correct amount and working with the state."

Customers who have store credit or pre-orders for upcoming releases are being told that their situations would be addressed next week after more information was gathered about the seizure.