Farmers’ Cabinet Open As a BYOB After Raid and Arrest of Matt Swartz

On Wednesday night, Pennsylvania State Police raided Farmers’ Cabinet, confiscating more than 800 bottles of liquor and arresting co-owner Matt Swartz. But the restaurant isn’t closed. Despite being known for their esoteric beers and fancy cocktails, Farmers’ Cabinet has gone BYOB, says a source inside the restaurant.

The Farmers’ Cabinet doesn’t have a current liquor license (that’s what brought out the State Police in the first place), so they’ll be forced to operate as a BYOB until they can get one.

But a licensee cannot renew its liquor license if it has outstanding state tax bills, and according to a case filed in Philadelphia’s Common Pleas Court, the Farmers’ Cabinet owes the state at least $33,000 in employment taxes. Swartz recently told me that the “taxes have been settled,” but then he also told me that he had a current liquor license. The lien remains active, according to court records.

On Wednesday night, Swartz was transferred to the 9th Police District. As of Thursday morning, he was awaiting arraignment on charges of forgery, tampering with official documents, selling beer and liquor without a liquor license, and conspiracy, according to police.