The Autoport closes, agrees to sell to Montoursville company

The Autoport has been featured on national television, in news articles and was probably rumored to be sold to someone you know.

The lights, however, are off — Greg and Lynda Mussi’s last day in business was Christmas Eve — and the rumors can stop with a deal in place.

Greg Mussi declined to identify the buyer, though bankruptcy documents show that South Atherton Real Estate 1 agreed to purchase the property and business for about $2.1 million. SARE, a Pennsylvania limited partnership, has the same Montoursville address as Gregory Welteroth Holdings, which did not return requests for comment.

The purchase could be made by April 30, 2016, according to documents filed.

County commissioners approved a fee agreement related to the sale Tuesday. The county was brought into the transaction to preserve the taxing of the proceeds that would come out of the sale.

About $130,000 in real estate taxes would be split among the municipality, the school district and the county.

“This represents our interest that all three entities receive the appropriate amount of tax on the sale,” County Administrator Tim Boyde said.

The Mussis began talks with potential buyers in 2014. They said interest in the property and business spiked after “Hotel Impossible” aired an episode on the business in October 2014.

Foreclosure with Enterprise Bank has been avoided since April 2014.

Joseph Fidler, Enterprise Bank’s attorney, placed the total liability at $1.34 million plus interest after April 17, 2014, of about $144 per day; late charges; attorney’s fees; and costs for foreclosure and sale of the property against The Piedmont Food Co. and Mussi Realty, each owned by the Mussis.

The agreed upon sale marks the end of the Mussi’s eight-year run operating The Autoport.

“I didn’t do it to become a millionaire,” Greg Mussi said. “I did it to preserve it. I enjoyed every day I came to work, but it needs someone else.”

The Mussis told employees about the closing several weeks ago.

“It’s not just the business that’s been important to me, it’s the people,” Greg Mussi said. “I loved the customers. I loved the people we worked with. I tell you what, they were very, very loyal to the end knowing there job was done. “They showed up did their job and excelled. I can’t say enough about the folks that stuck it out. We lost some, and I understand they did what they had to do. Some really stuck it out, and that doesn’t always happen when you’re closing.”

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 2:55 PM with the headline "The Autoport closes, agrees to sell to Montoursville company."