Auction to liquidate Downtown Minuteman Press assets

After a personal bankruptcy filing by one of the owners and an office eviction, the assets of Downtown Minuteman Press are scheduled to be auctioned next week.

Nick Sibley, who owns the building at the corner of Walnut Street and Jefferson Avenue, said he evicted the 334 E. Walnut St. print shop May 5 after the owners - Jack, Cheryl and Zachary Ebersold - failed to pay rent for over a year and a half. Sibley said the business owners owe him around $20,000 in rent.

On April 30, Zachary Ebersold - the son of Jack and Cheryl - filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In the filing, he claimed estimated assets of less than $50,000 against liabilities of $100,001 to $500,000. His parents are listed as co-debtors.

According to the filing, Arvest Bank and Troy Craig - who sold the Minuteman franchise rights to Jack Ebersold in January 2013 - filed a lien against the business property. Sibley said the Ebersolds borrowed money from Arvest against equipment owned by Craig. A call to the Downtown Minuteman Press store went unanswered this morning, and the Ebersolds are not listed in the phone book.

Auction items include computer and electronic equipment and office furniture, according to the listing with Springfield-based Bob Kollmeier Auctions. The liquidation sale is scheduled 9 a.m. May 27 at the downtown shop.

In the October Springfield Business Journal article, “Business Spotlight: On Demand,” the Ebersold family reported 2013 revenue of $179,000 and projected $200,000 in 2014 revenue.  Clients included Central High School, the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and Springfield Art Museum.

The Downtown Minuteman Press franchise store is separate from Minuteman Press on South Glenstone Avenue.[[In-content Ad]]