Sheriff’s sale for Hotel Saxonburg delayed until January
A final decision on the fate of the historic Hotel Saxonburg has been pushed back for at least two months.
The sheriff’s sale for the now-closed hotel and restaurant on Saxonburg’s Main Street, originally scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21, has been delayed to Friday, Jan. 16.
According to Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe, this was at the request of law firm MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, who are representing plaintiff Northwest Bank.
According to Slupe, the request did not specify a reason for the postponement, but it could have been for a variety of reasons.
“They can request a continuance for any reason,” Slupe said. “It could be service-related. It could be bankruptcy. It could be a deed in lieu of foreclosure. They don’t have to tell us.”
The law firm, based in Erie, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Hotel Saxonburg, a Butler County institution dating back nearly two centuries, announced its closure in March of this year, about a year and a half after its most recent owners — Annette Gervais and Lee Uncapher, under the company name Two20 LLC — purchased the property.
According to Butler County court records, the previous owners defaulted on loans of $600,000 and $50,000 from Northwest Bank, which were both issued in October 2023.
Although previous reports indicated anonymous buyers had shown interest in acquiring the historic business prior to the announcement of the sheriff’s sale, no transaction occurred.
“Nothing had panned out,” said borough manager Steven May. “There was a lot of talk, but it takes a special kind of owner. Not only would they be managing a restaurant and a hotel, but they’re operating it out of a special 100-plus year old building. So you’re a caretaker as well as an owner.
“We’ll be waiting with open arms for the new owner,” May added. “I’m hoping for the best, personally.”
