The city of Philadelphia is ordering a long-standing performance venue to shut down in a few weeks.
According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, a notice from the city’s department of revenue instructs World Cafe Live, located at 3025 Walnut St., to halt all of its operations by March 11, citing “serious tax violations.”
The order revokes the venue’s Commercial Activity License, the site said.
The address is also the home of the radio station WXPN, (88.5), which is a separate business although it does broadcast World Cafe Live shows as part of its “Free at Noon” series.
“The City pursues license revocation when a business is unregistered, has a delinquent tax balance, and/or unfiled returns,” a Department of Revenue spokesperson said in a statement. “The posting of a revocation notice indicates that the business is not tax compliant, and its removal generally indicates that the business has come into compliance.”
Founded in 2004 by Hal Real, World Cafe Live has had a number of legal and management battles recently. In May of last year, several workers walked out during the middle of a concert, saying it was a hostile environment and they were being treated unfairly.
Two unions representing the workers have filed unfair labor practices against the venue.
Then in July, World Cafe Live’s landlord, the University of Pennsylvania, gave them a notice to vacate saying they owed over $1 million in rent and utilities. Former CEO Joe Callahan has challenged the notice in court.
The venue has events scheduled through March 11, and into May and June.
