Fox & Obel Files For Bankruptcy

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Sep 19, 2013 7:00PM

Fox & Obel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, the latest stumble for the gourmet grocer.

According to court documents cited by the Tribune, Fox & Obel’s owner Vulpes LLC claims $500,000-$1 million in assets against liabilities ranging between $1 million and $10 million. The list of nearly 200 creditors is topped by the IRS and food supplier Sysco Corp.; they owed the latter $345,000. Vulpes LLC also owed $258,000 to AH River East LLC, the management company that maintains the space where the store is located.

The bankruptcy filing comes over two months after Fox & Obel was shut down by the Department of Public Health for three days after an inspection discovered cockroach and fruit fly infestations, among other violations. The company has also had problems in recent years meeting payroll and falling behind on its rent.