Credit: Douglas Trattner
Cleveland chef Jonathon Sawyer and his wife Amelia Zatik Sawyer have filed for Chapter 7 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Cleveland. The filing shows debts that add up to more than $1.5 million, largely to food suppliers like Blue Ribbon Meats, Catanese Classic Seafoods and Chef 2 Chef Foods.

On the other side of that balance sheet are assets totaling approximately $565,000, with most of that being a home in Geauga County valued at $489,000 and vehicles that include a Ford F-150, Mercedes-Benz, Motoguzzi motorcycle and Vespa scooter.

These debts were accumulated through the businesses of Greenhouse Tavern, Trentina and Noodlecat, which all are closed.

If the petition is granted, Chapter 7 typically allows for all debt to be discharged – and often while preserving the family home and other select assets. This is distinguished from a Chapter 13 bankruptcy which typically allows debtors to keep their assets and enter into a repayment plan with creditors.

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This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2020.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

6 replies on “With a Debt of More Than $1.5 Million, Chef Jonathon Sawyer Files for Bankruptcy”

  2. I think that’s awesome for Chef that he gets to keep his lavish home and vehicles while those other businesses get effed right in &&)€))))

  3. Vendors lawyers need to put leins against his home, vehicles etc so possibly get something down the road. Bad business. Isn’t he the same one that wanted to take over the westside market? Nah he’s done here and burned bridges.

  4. In Chapter 7 (liquidation), you don’t get to keep the home and vehicles. Typically, lenders (who have secured liens) will file for relief from the automatic stay and will foreclose their interests in those goods to recoup something on their debts.

  6. First off this is his 2nd bankruptcy. His first one was in 2011.
    2nd off..isn’t America great?! Form another business. Keep your business separate as a LLC. Build some business credit is a couple years, run up the bill, the debt, then pocket all of it, have the BUSINESS file bankruptcy. Repeat. About every 10 years. Awesome.

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