Craveworthy Brands’ Taïm locations shuttered across NYC for unpaid taxes

Taïm Mediterranean Grills has closed several locations across New York City due to over $632,000 in unpaid taxes, resulting in the restaurants being padlocked and seized by the state. This action reflects a significant portion of the brand's operations, particularly affecting its presence in the competitive New York market. Taïm, which operates under the Craveworthy Brands umbrella, was founded in 2005 and expanded to 14 locations by 2025, including markets such as Austin, Washington, D.C., and Miami.

The closures commenced following the issuance of 12 warrants by the State of New York for delinquent taxes. The consequences predominantly affect the New York units after the state claims that Craveworthy founder Gregg Majewski is responsible for the outstanding tax debts. Phil Petrilli, who invested in Taïm in 2018 and later formed Untamed Brands, has since filed a lawsuit against Majewski, asserting that he is not liable for the debts incurred by Taïm following their merger. This legal dispute is ongoing, complicating the financial landscape for Taïm and its parent company.

Overall, the tax issues and subsequent closures signal potential distress within the Taïm brand and raise questions about the overall health of the Craveworthy portfolio, particularly as Hot Chicken Takeover, another brand under Craveworthy, closed all of its locations in 2025. Craveworthy Brands, which includes multiple restaurant concepts, may face contagion risks among its other franchises if financial operations do not stabilize.

As the situation unfolds, attention turns to how Craveworthy and Taïm manage their remaining locations and any potential strategic moves to address the tax liabilities and restore the brand's operational viability. Whether the brand can recover from this setback will depend on the outcomes of ongoing legal disputes and its ability to reopen affected locations.