Triglia to close South Lake Tahoe pot shop; DiMatteo moving into fitness business
By Kathryn Reed
South Lake Tahoe will definitely be down to one pot club by Aug. 20, with one of the owners staying in town to run a different business.
Matt Triglia on Monday withdrew his challenge to being shut down and agreed to a slew of conditions that allow him to operate Patient2Patient medical marijuana collective until Aug. 20 at the latest.
Gino DiMatteo, who was officially evicted last week from his spot on Third Street where he ran City of Angels 2, has told city officials he is buying Push Fitness.
Tim Christenson's name will have to come off the sign when the sale of the business goes through. Photo/LTN
Neither Triglia, nor his wife, Erika, returned a phone call July 23.
City Manager Nancy Kerry on July 11 revoked Patient2Patient’s permit because the dispensary was violating various city codes. Triglia initially appealed that action, but since changed his mind after things began to unravel after last week’s council meeting.
At the July 17 City Council meeting it was revealed that the Triglias had been detained in Missouri in December and had $85,000 in cash taken by authorities. Triglia at the council meeting adamantly denied it was him.
Later last week when confronted with police photos from Missouri, Triglia changed his story, according to city officials, to say he was working for Homeland Security. When that story fell apart, officials said, Triglia agreed to close shop.
Triglia has until Aug. 1 to paint the building – which means covering up the illegal mural as well removing unpermitted signs. He must also post a notice to patients stating he will be closing.
“They have removed the illegal growing operation from the Spot,” Kerry told Lake Tahoe News. The Spot is the business operating in the building closest to Highway 50. Escrow on that building never closed, so ownership will revert to Matt Johnson of Gardnerville, according to Kerry.
The Triglias own the building set back farther where patients enter.
Changing direction
The closure of Patient2Patient and City of Angels 2 means Tahoe Wellness Collective will be the only medical marijuana dispensary in South Lake Tahoe.
While the Triglias’ plans are unknown, DiMatteo is returning to his life in the world of fitness.
The phone number DiMatteo used for the medical marijuana collective has been disconnected. Tim Christenson, who has owned the fitness club for the past several years, did not return multiple phone calls.
In addition to buying the club, DiMatteo is selling his house in the Angora Highlands area – one of two he owns in the area.
But the fitness club comes with outstanding bills.
El Dorado Climbing Walls, based in Colorado, has been trying to collect what it’s owed from Christenson for nearly a year.
John McGowan, president of the climbing wall firm, said the legal expenses exceed the cost of installing the wall. He told Lake Tahoe News that last week a judge ruled that who pays legal fees is still to be negotiated. McGowan said Christenson wanted that off the table.
A settlement hearing is scheduled for next month, but McGowan believes ultimately the case will be decided by an El Dorado County Superior Court judge.
“I believe it will go to court. But will Push Fitness be solvent?” McGowan wonders. “They could do a sale of assets and close Push. Gino could buy the assets and not the liability.”
(Christenson does not own the building, just the business.)
In addition to the climbing wall firm wanting money, Christenson has regularly not paid taxes. And there is no record of a fictitious business license for Push Fitness registered with El Dorado County.
About a year ago, I was invited to a lunch with all three SLT dispensary owners, the city attorney and the city manager. The reason for the meeting was to obtain my support for a cultivation ordinance. At that time, I informed everyone that none of the dispensaries in town were complying with the law and that I was withdrawing my support for them. I also told them that their new cultivation ordinance was illegal and violated the rights of medical marijuana patients. That was the last time I spoke to the city manager or visited any of the dispensaries. Worst of all, because of poor behavior by all involved, especially the City Council, seriously ill and disabled patients will now have to travel out of the area to obtain good quality medicine.
Go figure, the SLT City council is so stupid they screwed up selling pot.
Skier, Patient 2 Patient illegally grew dope and got busted with unexplainable cash and then lied about it. And thats the Council’s fault how? The owner is sitting on a cash cow and cant even put up a firewall?
Kids, dont smoke dope, it makes you stupid!
Steve, if there is still one pot club left, why isn’t that good enough for the people that really are ill? Too bad for all the people with the phony medical marijuana cards. We won’t have to see them hanging around the pot clubs and they are well enough to travel for their pot. Tahoe just isn’t that big that it needs a bunch of pot clubs.
Did not know that Push was not paying their bills, they get my money every month, time to stop my membership.
Christenson is a scumbag. He screwed so many locals with claims of longer memberships than they originally signed. I hope Gino can do a better job – and increase the parking lot!
Oh please tell me someone else is taking over PUSH!!! Best damn thing to happen to this gym since Tim took it over… Fitness is NOT A PRIVILEGE!!! as he would say… It’s an opportunity for people to change their lives for the better, and feel supported as they are doing it… Not feel as though a crappy membership is thrown down their throat. No wonder no one will give him their credit card info for monthly renew. So sad.
So basically Push is being bought with what i presume is illegal drug money and now being run by Gino’$ small town wanna be mafia. I will canx my membership and never go back if Gino owns Push. Through my own personal dealing with Gino, he has a criminal mindset and it has been alleged that he also acted as an informant for slednet on some of his own growers that wouldnt conform to his wannabe mafia. Stay away from Gino and any of his businesses the allegations of
his being a scumbag are too many to be coincedence
The Tahoe News once again makes up their own version of the facts. Push Fitness has no debts and has tried very hard to work out a solution with Colorado Wall. Colorado Wall in violation of Calif OSHA rules did open welding with no ventilation causing injury to several people all Tim wants is an indemnification from El Dorado Wall as people have two years to sue, the only leverage he has is the balance due. Funds are being held aside to settle this matter if and when El Dorado owes up to thei9r responsibility.
Push remain as the bnest gym in the state.
Good luck getting out of your contract with Push. If you have automatic debits from your checking account your only recourse is to place a stop payment. Push will not help you at all.
Mr. Long, do you want the list of people that has had to fight PUSH over bills & money? People that have had no problem with other businesses in town! There’s obviously a reason he’s getting out, not to mention a reason Tim took his name off the signage!
Gino is a drug dealer!!!. He was in Myers with garbage bags full of cash trying to buy another business. He has made so many illegal deals at his shop that he is able to buy Push Fitness. This makes me sick!! Gino claims that he WAS (key word) Black Hand Mafia and he was kicked out of the “family”. He also claims that he did federal time for three years. I happen to know that you cannot own a dispensary if you are a felon. This man is wanted by the NF (northern family) for wearing a wire on him while making an illegal transaction I would be very careful working out at push from now on. We unfortunately have a loser thug with money running around free on the streets of Tahoe!!!
All I can say is I am glad I did not renew my membership with Push fitness a couple of months ago as I was a member since he opened.If they were to close all of you with annual memberships will get screwed.Is that not what happen with the last owner?
Hey all, Black Hand Mafia, bags full of cash, informant, illegal deals, buying PUSH, SLEDNET informant, wore a wiretap, is wanted by the mob….. anyone have any proof or is this all hearsay? If this is true, this guy could sell his life story for a fortune and he would not need Tahoe.
I don’t know this guy but innocent until proven guilty in this country used to be the rule.
The City Council is responsible for all of this needless mess that has landed in Lake Tahoe. City of Angels 2 and Gino were acctualy in complete compliance with the city. But that was not good enough for them. The City Council even approved their move and the city manager signed off the permits after the city council meeting on June 5th. The city council later went back on their vote and essentially screwed Gino over. It’s all on the City Council website so don’t just take my word for it go watch the recorded meetings.
As for the rumors that Gino bought PUSH Fitness, I hope they are true! He will be the best thing that could happen to that place. In my opinion he has been a blessing to this community and I know lots of people who feel the same way.
I have had the opportunity to work with Gino over the past few years and none of these allegations are true. I have seen him do exactly what the City has asked of him time and time again. He has set an example in this community on how a business can live in Harmony in this town and now that has all been stripped away by the City. Just so they can further there agenda to remove all dispensaries from South Lake Tahoe. I am not aware of him purchasing Push Fitness but if this is in fact true you can count on it becoming a top notch facility that cares about its clients and the town of South Lake Tahoe.
It is innocent until proven guilty. And through Ginos own admission to myself ,he allegedly has had an own going financial relationship w the very officers who would bring him to trail. I have many first hand accounts of his alleged illegal activities and he has bragged about quite a bit too. To say he has been a blessingvto our community is ridiculous. Gino has attempted his mafia tactics on me and imposed them on numerous others around town. He is a con artist. The city council and slednet are on the right track. Its amazing how much they a correct with theyr allegations surround the illegal activities. I was a first hand witness to many such events and almost lost my home and family to Ginos evil plan. I personally saw his name in a report that has identified him as the lead informant on a grow that he supplied me with contracts for.
I have known Gino for awhile and if anyone ” Knows Him” they would know that he has a heart of gold and only wants the best for others. He works his ass off to be successful and people just want to knock him back down. What is so wrong with wanting to be successful in life..Obviously the people that can’t get their facts strait and spread rumors over hear say are not happy in their own lives or..people that have screwed Gino over for their own personal gain is probably why they are posting false statements about the only person who gives a DAMN about this community. Don’t forget that Gino has donated his time, money and support to schools, Fund raisers, and much more..Get your facts together before posting rude comments or things you know nothing about. And if Gino is buying Push Fitness than I think people need to give it a chance on their own personal experience not from someone else’s. I love you G. Stay Strong.
Hello? This is a federally illegally enterprise! End it!
Um, the last place I would set foot in is Push if Gino takes over. End of story.
Hey Gino, why don’t you tell the community who DAVE is. I mean, seeing as you are so honest and so community oriented and all. C’mon Gino, tell ’em…who’s DAVE?
“At the July 17 City Council meeting it was revealed that the Triglia’s had been detained in Missouri in December and had $85,000 in cash taken by authorities. Triglia at the council meeting adamantly denied it was him. Later last week when confronted with police photos from Missouri, Triglia changed his story, according to city officials, to say he was working for Homeland Security. When that story fell apart, officials said, Triglia agreed to close shop.”
What a guy. Triglia blatantly lied through his beard with his young child sitting right next to him at that City Council meeting. That’s some real impressive behavior.
Oh, and Gino—Who’s DAVE?
I’m glad the city council men finally found their BALLS! Make sure the ropes are long enough!!!!!!!
Dave is the alleged brothernlaw who had an alleged illegal grow house in Al Tahoe who was allegedly supplying Gino.
Dave was also on alleged probation in Nevada and selling alleged pot goodies made out of his alleged motel room. No food handlers license or any of those required permits were obtained by Dave.
Dave made many alleged trips out of State for Gino too. One of which was to New York. Allegedly. Gino supplied Dave with an alleged vehicle.
Allegedly of course. ;)
One more thing,
Dave boasted that Gino was going to retire here shortly because he had made over a million. Not bad for a non profit gig eh?
Allegedly, remember.
Don’t know anyone involved in the above comments, but I do know that you folks are WAY out of line accusing people of things on this forum! Regardless of anything alleged! Talk to the police if you have any real info, but you have no business using this type of a forum to air your accusations.
But of course the police were contacted. No brainer. This forum is a representation of our community and with that said, it is important that the public get an idea of who we are allowing to do business within our community. One look at the bigger picture and you will see that this man is a liar (proven) and was profiting (proven) and when he lied some more about working for Homeland Security (desperate and deplorable lies) then he pretty much proved to the community that he cannot be trusted to tell the truth or to do business with. Anything else is really moot but should serve as a warning for those that insist on paiting the picture of a loving heart of gold guy.
My brother is an idiot and an embarrassment to my family! If anyone
has any information that will get my sweet niece out of this horrible situation please contact Judge Gibbons in Douglas county. Matt and his wife have gotten away with too much for too long and the only ones suffering are the kids, it’s time the law catches up with them and the young children can be taken to a normal situation that doesn’t involve growing huge amounts of weed….
What horrible situation are you alleging shes in. Is she part of the whole operation. It was obvious matt brought her to the council meeting in an attempt to gain sympathy. Very distasteful. Iv known matt since p2p opened
After my dealings w him found him to be very dishonest and greedy. Strictly a profiteer. Doesnt care about who he lies to
Yes she can tell you all you would ever want to know about cannabis plants or “medicine plants”. She accompanies him on a regular basis to grass valley to the “gold mine”… If you know what I mean! My brother is a habitual lier and no good is coming from any of this. She has already been exposed to a raid in her home where she was woken up in the middle of the night to guns and flashlights and yelling causing her to suffer in fear for years now… I’ve known him my whole life… Matt is only out for Matt… And Ravean is just as bad!!
And there is no alleging… This is the real deal!
Then her speaking to a social worker should be more than enough to remove her from such an endangering environment. Sounds like she has all the information they need. She is a true victim of Matts felonious escapades
The system is a joke! CPS has been notified several times, he is such a great lier and manipulator that he has wheezled his way around it… She is the true victim and ppl need to start speaking out about what they know for her sake… It’s so sad :(
some great things for the Reporter to follow up on…
Tim Christenson reportedly got $150,000 from Barton Health when they backed out of their purchase agreement to buy Push, so he took about $25K as down payment for the Rock Wall and pocketed the rest.
Ted Long is Tim’s attorney.. maybe he can answer why Tim has so many outstanding bills at the very least…
Tahoe Asphalt $$$ for snow removal past due from two years ago,
Tahoe Mountain News,
Tahoe Tribune
Charter for music, TV and internet, at least 2 months past due
Tahoe Refuse for garbage collection…
ALSCO for laundry
Tahoe Water bill is over $2,000 behind
not to mention TAXES… both Federal. State. and Local
I’m sure there is many more..
Let’s not forget that OSHA lawsuit that Tim admitted he knew about the ventilation problem but didn’t say anything to anyone.
Timing for this buy out seems interesting as Tim billed ALL of his members an additional $35 for June/July that is on top of an in addition to their regular monthly membership.
He calls this an “Enhancement Fee.” He claims this is to help him pay for improvements to the Gym.
He boasts 2,000 members so at $70 per that comes to $140,000.
Obvious he wants to sell now so he can cash out what he can and run and leave Gino with the debt.
But it might workout for Gino. A gym is a great business to launder money isn’t it?
Aaron, is Dave the one with the long blonde hair and beard?
Hey Beware,
sorry, didn’t see this until now. Dave has a shaved head. Skinny guy with a missing tooth. Looks like your typical tweeker. Word is he is hiding out from Gino. ALLEGEDLY. Not sure where he is from orginally but he’s spent some time in Oklahoma. Word is he is somewhere in the south hiding out. If he’s not still in a Nevada prison.