No bids for Farmers' Cabinet's liquor license
The auction - which was unusual in that it was held on the sidewalk outside the shuttered restaurant (1111-1113 Walnut St.) - attracted eight potential buyers.
The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office tried unsuccessfully on Tuesday to sell the rights to the state liquor license used by the Walnut Street bar Farmers' Cabinet.
The auction - which was unusual in that it was held on the sidewalk outside the shuttered restaurant (1111-1113 Walnut St.) - attracted eight potential buyers.
None offered the minimum bid of $45,000. At least one onlooker was surprised to learn that the entire sale price would have to be paid in cash on the spot.
A sheriff's deputy explained that bidders would be paying for the right to buy the license, which may have encumbrances, including tax liens. A $1.3 million default judgment was entered last year against Farmers' Cabinet owners Matt and Colleen Swartz.
"Clean" liquor licenses in Philadelphia County sell for more than $90,000.
Sheriff's deputies rescheduled the sale for noon April 28 at the sheriff's office, 100 S. Broad St.
"That's what I was afraid of," said Sebastian Miller, a former Farmers' Cabinet manager who sued over nearly $3,600 in back pay. (See article here.)
The sale would settle a default judgment entered against Colleen Swartz, whose name appears on the license.
The restaurant closed last July. It was evicted after a tumultuous past.