POTTSVILLE — The Tex-Mex Diner, 402 E. Market St., in Garfield Square, has closed.
Brown paper covered the windows of the restaurant, formerly the Garfield Diner, but no information was posted Wednesday as to why the building was shuttered.
“It’s a shame. They seemed to be doing well,” Justin Trefsger, city code enforcement officer, said Wednesday.
City Building Code Officer David Petravich noticed Monday that the building appeared closed. Neither Trefsger nor Petravich issued violations or notices.
A post on the Tex-Mex Diner’s Facebook page on July 5 said, “Keep calm and we’ll be back soon.”
On Sunday, notices from Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau were posted on the doors, warning of an upset sale in September if taxes were not paid. The notices were gone Wednesday.
Angela D. Toomey, director of the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau, said Wednesday that $5,297 is owed for the property, which is listed as being owned by Jimmy Manaroulas and George Hazakis. Taxes are owed for 2015 and 2016. City, county and school district taxes are listed as being owed for 2015 on the property amounting to $3,637.89. Taxes owed for 2016 amount to $1,659.19, which is only the city and county taxes. If the taxes are not paid by the end of the month, the amount owed increases. A figure was not provided.
The Pottsville Area School District has an outside firm collect taxes owed. If taxes for 2015 are not paid by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22, the property will go for upset sale at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25 in the courthouse. If the property does not sell, the owners must pay 2015 and 2016 taxes to get it back. The property could be available for private sale if approved by Commonwealth Court.
Toomey said it is not uncommon for people to pay taxes at the last minute for any number of reasons.
Manaroulas was not available for comment.
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