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WILKES-BARRE — What the Fork owes the Internal Revenue Service nearly $45,000 in back taxes and another $105,000 to a local small business developer, court documents show.

A federal tax lien filed Tuesday in Luzerne County Court says the owners of the Dunmore-based business, touted as a pioneer among area food trucks and noted for its 2015 television appearance on “Live with Kelly and Michael,” owe $44,831 in quarterly taxes from last year.

Another judgment, filed July 28 by Scranton-based MetroAction, totals $105,287, court records show.

MetroAction’s website describes the company as “a non-profit community development organization dedicated to providing small business loans and business development assistance throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.”

A call placed to the company Tuesday was answered by an operator who referred a reporter to Kristine Augustine, vice president of business and community development, who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Andrew Hailstone, MetroAction’s attorney in the civil action, also could not be reached Tuesday.

What the Fork, owned by Mario Bevilacqua, of Scranton, recently stopped deploying its two trucks, shuttered its brick-and-mortar Midtown Village location and abandoned its online presence, deleting its website and Facebook page.

The Times Leader reported earlier this month that one of the business’s two, neon-green-painted trucks, a 1994 Chevy Grumman Olson food truck, was recently sold, according to food truck website roaminghunger.com. The truck’s asking price was $50,000.

Bevilacqua could not be reached Tuesday by phone, and no one answered the phone Tuesday at the business’ main number, but Bevilacqua took to his personal Facebook page to apparently express his thoughts on the IRS’ judgment.

“Federal tax lien my a—,” he wrote Tuesday afternoon.

Bevilacqua, assisted by fiancee and co-owner Katie Graziosi, of Old Forge, ran the mobile kitchen since July 2012, serving “Modern American” cuisine, “street food” and “bistro fare” at various locations in Scranton, Dunmore, Dickson City and Wilkes-Barre.

Earlier this year, the business announced plans to open a second restaurant in the Mall at Steamtown in Scranton.

Stephanie Longo, director of marketing and communication for the Scranton Chamber of Commerce, through which Bevilacqua rented space in the former mall, confirmed earlier this month he is no longer a tenant, but could not speculate as to why he left the business incubator.

What the Fork’s brick-and-mortar location in Wilkes-Barre’s Midtown Village has closed. The IRS on Tuesday revealed the business, which recently shuttered the restaurant and abandoned its Facebook page and website, owes nearly $45,000 in back taxes.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_web1_IMG_3586-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWhat the Fork’s brick-and-mortar location in Wilkes-Barre’s Midtown Village has closed. The IRS on Tuesday revealed the business, which recently shuttered the restaurant and abandoned its Facebook page and website, owes nearly $45,000 in back taxes. Brigid Edmunds file photo | Times Leader

By Joe Dolinsky

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL