A recent Bucks County bankruptcy has taken on all the intrigue of a prime-time soap opera. Quakertown’s Midnight Madness Distilling LLC, producer of the popular Faber liquor line, filed for Chapter 11. Laura Smythe describes the aftermath for the Philadelphia Business Journal. 

Midnight Madness was founded in 2012 by two Carnegie Mellon students in an entrepreneurship class, Anthony Lorubbio and Casey Parzych. It produces its own liquor and provides co-op canning, bottling and other services from a 160,000-square-foot warehouse in Trumbauersville. 

COVID-19 was not kind to the business. The product shortages related to supply-chain pandemic slowdowns had a devastating economic impact.  

A bankruptcy filing illustrated the dire financial condition. Records show substantial outstandings to 50-99 creditors. 

The bankruptcy proceedings come just over two months after Lorubbio initiated a civil complaint against Parzych, alleging breaches of contract and fiduciary duty. 

In his complaint, Lorubbio states that Parzych funneled Midnight Madness funds and resources to his wife Ashleigh Baldwin, supporting her CBD product manufacturing business. 

Retaliating, Parzych, blamed Lorubbio for the defaults and removed him as CEO. 

In response, Lorubbio “threw a tantrum,” locking himself in his office, writing a $10,000 check to himself for “unauthorized expenses,” and fleeing in a company car. Which was later found trashed.

A timetable is in place for putting the business’ August sale in motion in bankruptcy court. 

More on this liquor liquidation is at the Philadelphia Business Journal. 

Midnight Madness’ distillery might be a thing of the past, but there are plenty of other options in Bucks County for a finely crafted brew or deliciously aged wine. Get our free guide to finding the area’s best sips.

Cheers!