A popular brewery and taproom in Bradenton owes a bank nearly $2 million and is facing eviction as part of a foreclosure lawsuit, according to Manatee County court records.
Motorworks Brewing was named as a defendant in a foreclosure lawsuit filed May 21 by Seacoast National Bank, according to court documents.
Seacoast is seeking repayment of four loans made to Motorworks between 2017 and 2022, totaling $1,901,384.84, plus interest and late fees, records show.
The bank is also asking the court to sell the property and evict the tenants.
Motorworks Brewing LLC and Princess T LLC, are among the defendants named in the lawsuit. Frank Tschida is listed as the sole director in both companies, state records show. Frank Tschida and Denise Tschida are also named individually in the lawsuit. Court records indicate they divorced in 2024.
Motorworks Brewing, located at 1014 Ninth St. W., near LECOM Stadium, has been in business since 2014 and is widely credited as Manatee County’s first modern craft brewery.
In addition to its award-winning craft beer, Motorworks is also known for the 150-year-old oak tree on its 27,000-square-foot property.
Motorworks has a taproom, beer garden, full-liquor bar with cocktail menu, covered stage for outdoor live music and food offerings from Blue Water Catering and Wilder’s Pizza.
In March, Motorworks Brewing was named as the ninth best beer garden in USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
The brewery previously earned national attention for beer can art featuring adoptable dogs, appearing on ‘”The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2020.
Motorworks in Bradenton is its flagship location, with taprooms also existing in Tampa and at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
The Orlando Business Journal reported that Motorworks in Orlando closed on May 26.
The news about Motorworks comes at a time of turbulence for the Sarasota-Manatee brewery scene. Amid legal disputes, Sarasota’s Big Top Brewing exited locations in Lakewood Ranch and on Cattleman Road and sold its building at 3045 Fruitville Commons Blvd., which Big Top now leases.
Fellow Bradenton brewery and restaurant 3 Keys Brewing also recently announced it will close after a final day of business May 31.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Bradenton brewery faces foreclosure and possible eviction
Reporting by Chris Anderson, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
