Hotel Saxonburg set for sheriff’s sale
SAXONBURG — The 193-year-old Hotel Saxonburg, which closed earlier this year, may find a new owner by way of a sheriff’s sale scheduled for November.
The news was revealed during a meeting of the Saxonburg Area Business Association on Tuesday morning, Aug. 12.
“I do believe that there are some legitimate buyers planning on attending that sheriff’s sale,” said Saxonburg-area real estate agent Jack Hutterer, treasurer of the business association. “I think the next thing we’re probably going to see, most likely, is find out who shows up at the sheriff’s sale and whether somebody bids enough to actually purchase it.”
In October 2023, Annette Gervais and Lee Uncapher, under the company name Two20 LLC, purchased the Hotel Saxonburg from Judy Ferree, promising to rejuvenate the old restaurant. Less than a year and a half later, Saxonburg residents were shocked to learn the borough institution — which had survived the Civil War, two world wars and two pandemics — had closed its doors.
“After much consideration, the decision has been made to cease operations due to health issues, rising costs of food, and the growing expenses associated with maintaining our beloved historic building,” a statement issued through social media in March read.
According to Uncapher, multiple prospective buyers showed interest in acquiring the restaurant, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, but no one stepped forward with a formal offer.
“I had people express interest,” Uncapher said. “We’ve showed it to people and there was interest, but no one made an offer.”
As of Tuesday, those who stop by the former restaurant will find a closing notice posted by the former management, as well as a sign saying, “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.”
A legal notice was also found lodged in the door alerting the management utilities were soon to be switched off, although it is unclear when the letter was issued to the restaurant.
According to Butler County court records, the previous owners defaulted on loans of $600,000 and $50,000 from Northwest Bank which were both made in October 2023.
The “complaint in confession of judgment” which was made for each loan states the bank issued letters to the Hotel Saxonburg — one in January, the other in March — demanding they pay back each loan in full within 30 days. The statements went on to say no payments were made on either loan in each 30-day period.
Further documents revealed the Hotel Saxonburg property was subsequently seized, with Northwest Bank obtaining judgments of $700,894.05 and $58,751.27, respectively. The added amounts include interest and attorney’s fees.
The closure of Hotel Saxonburg was announced through social media on March 5, the day after the first 30-day notice expired.
“The one thing I will say is that we miss (the Hotel Saxonburg) immensely,” Hutterer said. “The town loved the hotel and we’d love to see somebody take it over and bring it right back to where it was before.”
The sheriff’s sale is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21.
