Former popular Leechburg restaurant slated to tax sale next month

A former restaurant in Leechburg remains unsold and is now up for public auction as the result of delinquent taxes.

The former Pappy’s restaurant, located at 81-83 Second St., closed last year.

The property, built in 1949, originally was listed for $185,000 last November by Coldwell Banker.

The price has been reduced to $89,500.

A public delinquent tax notice is affixed to the exterior of the building.

Rebecca Snyder, director of the Armstrong County Tax Claim Bureau, confirmed the total taxes owed for 2017-2019 on the property are just over $17,000.

If the taxes remain unpaid, a public sale is scheduled by the county on Nov. 19 at the Belmont Complex in West Kittanning.

“Due to covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to have the auction in the courthouse,” Snyder said.

Snyder said the minimum bid, or upset price, is $23,241.43.

The property may be sold without the owner’s consent and could sell for a fraction of its fair market value.

The tax notice lists Rosa Leah Bonello, of Clever Real Estate Management LLC of Leechburg, as the owner or reputed owner.

The owner declined to comment for this story.

Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos said the property needs some work, but he remains hopeful that someone will see the potential in the building.

“I would like to see someone buy it and open it back up as a restaurant,” he said.

Before closing, Pappy’s was a popular dining spot in the borough and previously operated as Bonello’s.

The property is zoned business. It offers more than 8,000 square feet that includes the restaurant, an adjacent dental office and all equipment and furnishings.

“I used to go to Bonello’s a lot, and they had a thriving business there. It’s a shame that it’s come to this,” said Linda Alworth of Gilpin. “I looked at it for a potential business opportunity, but it needs a lot of updates with electrical and equipment.”

The annual taxes are about $7,500 .