Court says owners no longer can manage Hofbräuhaus. Here’s who’s in control now.
A St. Louis County judge has granted a bank’s request to appoint a receiver who has “complete and exclusive control” over the business affairs for the Hofbräuhaus German restaurant and brewery in Belleville.
Royal Banks of Missouri filed for the motion as the lender to the Hofbräuhaus, which is listed in court records as the borrower.
William Guy Crouch was named the receiver, according to an order filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Friday. Crouch could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The order doesn’t say how much money Royal Banks of Missouri loaned the Hofbräuhaus, which opened in March 2018. The opening was about two years later than the late Chuck Keller of Effingham and his family had initially said it would be.
Matt Simmons, an attorney who said earlier this fall that he was the new general manager of the Hofbräuhaus for the Keller family, on Tuesday declined to comment on Crouch’s appointment. Simmons said he also will be representing co-defendants in the case.
Llynn K. White, an attorney for Royal Banks of Missouri, also could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The restaurant was open Tuesday night.
The Hofbräuhaus was closed for about a week in late September and early October when Simmons began managing the restaurant located on Illinois 15 across from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
Chuck Keller died in January. The Royal Banks of Missouri case lists multiple defendants, including Chuck Keller’s wife, Doris, and two of his sons, Christopher Keller of Effingham and Chane Keller of Belleville.
Judge’s order
St. Louis County Judge David Lee Vincent III said Crouch is not an attorney for any of the parties involved in the case and has the experience to be the receiver.
“Effective immediately, (Crouch) is authorized to take and have complete and exclusive control and management of the business affairs and operations of the borrowers ...,” the order states.
Crouch also was given control over the collateral put up by the Hofbräuhaus and the companies that were organized to establish and run the restaurant.
A list of the collateral includes the “Keller residence” in Effingham.
Crouch is authorized to take any actions he deemed appropriate “to prevent waste” and to “safeguard” the collateral.
Tax incentives
The city of Belleville spent $2.42 million to extend sewer lines to the development site. It also granted tax incentives worth up to $32.36 million, but those were based on future revenues, not paid upfront.
The Keller family has said it would build hotels and other restaurants next to the Hofbräuhaus but those projects have not started.
A St. Louis company has proposed to build a Zoom convenience store on a lot next to the Hofbräuhaus and the city’s Planning Commission voted last week to recommend the City Council approve the company’s plans for the store.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 8:51 AM.
