The owner of the now-defunct El Guadalupe's Mexican restaurant in Blacksburg was recently ordered by a judge to pay the town $38,000 in back taxes.

According to Blacksburg General District Court files, Maria Aguirre Gomez -- also shown in the records as Maria Aguirre and Maria Sandoval Aguirre -- "collected town meals taxes but did not pay them to the town" between September 2006 and September 2007.

Court records also show that the restaurant operated for a time last year without a valid business license.

Gomez was ordered in April to pay the back taxes to the town in monthly installments of $1,000. She made a payment this month, according to Blacksburg Finance Director Susan Kaiser.

While it's rare for a restaurant to fall so far in arrears on meals tax payments, Kaiser said, the town did not force Gomez to close the restaurant.

Records show Gomez owes the town $306 for an outstanding water and sewer bill, as well.

To reopen El Guadalupe's or any other business in her name, Gomez must first pay her outstanding debts to the town, Kaiser said.

Gomez did not return phone messages seeking comment.

-- Tonia Moxley