The Roxy’s File

An Independent Investigation

West Palm Beach · Est. 1933

Roxy’s — the full story

Sources & References — The Roxy’s Pub Long-Read

By The Roxy’s File · Published

· Updated

References

  1. CBS12 / iHeart Real Radio (Joel Malkin), “Landmark Roxy’s Pub in West Palm Beach is in custody of PBSO,” Apr. 23, 2026 — realradio.iheart.com
  2. Same source as [1]: a judge directed PBSO to seize the property; the door notice says it is “in the custody of” the Sheriff’s Office and “to be sold.” Roxy’s owners had not paid the jury-ordered sum.
  3. Palm Beach Post (Andrew Marra), “Prohibition, gunfire, politicos, Snoop Dogg…,” Sept. 3, 2025, via AOL syndication — aol.com
  4. Palm Beach Post, “Court seizes Roxy’s…,” Apr. 22, 2026, via Yahoo News syndication — yahoo.com
  5. Roxy’s Pub official site, About page — roxyspub.com/blank-1
  6. Palm Beach Post photo feature, “Look: West Palm’s oldest bar,” Sept. 9, 2025, via AOL — aol.com
  7. CBS12 (Sophie Pendrill), “West Palm Beach staple Roxy’s Pub faces court-ordered sale,” Apr. 23, 2026 — cbs12.com
  8. Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, parcel 74-43-43-21-01-013-0180 (309 Clematis St) — pbcpao.gov
  9. WPTV (Peter Burke), “Roxy’s Pub plans to add rooftop restaurant, swimming pool,” May 12, 2023 — wptv.com
  10. Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, parcel 74-43-43-21-01-013-0170 (313 Clematis St) — pbcpao.gov
  11. WFLX (Peter Burke), “Stretch of Clematis Street closed during Roxy’s Pub rooftop renovation,” July 10, 2023 — wflx.com
  12. Palm Beach Post (Greg Lovett), “Rooftop pool bar opens: Top of the Rox,” July 23, 2025, via AOL — aol.com
  13. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Von Esselborn, Inc., Doc. No. K88541 — search.sunbiz.org
  14. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), RP Palm Beach, LLC, Doc. No. M16000007837 (foreign LLC, State: AK; manager: Small Time Restaurant Group LLC) — search.sunbiz.org
  15. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Roxys Pub, LLC, Doc. No. M11000006125 (foreign LLC, State: NV; revoked 2019) — search.sunbiz.org
  16. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Roxys Inc., Doc. No. P05000125761 (dissolved 11/07/2011) — search.sunbiz.org
  17. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Wallisville Corporation, Doc. No. P02000090717 — search.sunbiz.org
  18. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Wine Dive, LLC, Doc. No. L10000100830 (319 Clematis; dissolved 2020) — search.sunbiz.org
  19. Supreme Court of New York, Webb v. Emerald Group Holdings LLC, Index No. 659827/2025, 2026 NY Slip Op 31755(U) (Apr. 22, 2026) — nycourts.gov
  20. Broward Palm Beach New Times, “Lost Weekend moving to 500 block of Clematis” — browardpalmbeach.com
  21. Sub-Culture Group, Lost Weekend WPB — sub-culture.org
  22. Complaint, Perez-Valdivia v. RP Palm Beach, LLC d/b/a Roxy’s Pub, No. 502021CA002375XXXXMB (Fla. 15th Cir. Ct., filed Feb. 22, 2021), court-record PDF hosted by CBS12.
  23. Second Amended Final Judgment (Aug. 25, 2025), same case, court-record PDF hosted by CBS12.
  24. WPBF via PalmBeachCounty.com, “Sheriff’s levy posted at Roxy’s Pub as $1.1 million judgment triggers collection fight,” Apr. 21, 2026 — palmbeachcounty.com
  25. WPBF via PalmBeachCounty.com, “Auction for Roxy’s Pub property in West Palm Beach canceled,” June 2, 2026 — palmbeachcounty.com
  26. iHeart/WIOD (Joel Malkin), “Landmark Irish pub in West Palm Beach dodges sheriff’s auction,” June 4, 2026 — wiod.iheart.com
  27. Boca Post, “Palm Beach County Civil Filings — May 14, 2026” (NBL SPV IV LLC v. Webb, John P, Case No. 50-2026-CA-005474-XXXA-MB) — bocapost.com
  28. CBS12, “What’s next for Roxy’s Pub? Auction is off, but legal fight continues” — cbs12.com
  29. Palm Beach Post, “West Palm Roxy’s Pub spared from auction. But now foreclosure looms,” via Yahoo — yahoo.com (loan figures corroborated by Hoodline)
  30. CBS12, “Two dancing girls want to take Roxy’s to court” — cbs12.com
  31. WFLX, “Witness says deadly fall from rooftop bar was not an accident,” Dec. 21, 2010 — wflx.com. Additional incident reporting: Brian Silber, P.A., “Jessica Harris Falls to Death at Roxy’s Pub in West Palm Beach, Florida,” Dec. 20, 2010 — briansilber.com; NBC 6 South Florida, “Woman Falls From South Florida Rooftop Club” — nbcmiami.com; South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, “West Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Roof Fall from Pub Deck” (citing WPBF, May 24, 2011 and Palm Beach Post, May 23, 2011) — southfloridainjurylawyerblog.com. Correction: a wrongful-death suit was filed — Brian Harris v. Roxy’s, Inc. d/b/a Roxy’s Pub, Case No. 50-2011-CA-007486-XXXX-MB, Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView (full docket, 242 entries; filed 5/20/2011; Directed Verdict & Final Judgment for the defendant 5/2/2012, “Disposed by Jury Trial,” O.R. Book 025180 Pg. 00283) — appsgp.mypalmbeachclerk.com/ecaseview.
  32. NewsBreak summary of Florida DBPR inspection data (March 18, 2025 inspection, 15 violations, temporary closure).
  33. Context on Palm Beach County’s 2020 bar closures generally (no Roxy’s-specific COVID action found): CBS12, “Bar owners rejoice after business restrictions lifted,” Sept. 25, 2020.
  34. Full docket (278 entries), Perez-Valdivia v. RP Palm Beach LLC, Case No. 50-2021-CA-002375-XXXX-MB, Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView, retrieved June 10, 2026. Key entries: DIN 233 (verdict 2/21/25); DIN 236 (Final Judgment 2/26/25, $883,200 + $588,800); DIN 247 (collateral-source reduction 5/16/25); DIN 248 (Amended Final Judgment 6/11/25); DIN 255 (Second Amended Final Judgment 8/25/25, $702,949.75 + $468,633.17); DIN 266–267 (writs 12/4/25); DIN 270 (counsel withdrawal 12/16/25); DIN 273 (order compelling Form 1.977 compliance 2/19/26); DIN 276–280 (writs returned not executed; re-issued 4/10/26).
  35. Full docket (41 entries), NBL SPV IV LLC v. Webb, John P, Case No. 50-2026-CA-005474-XXXA-MB, Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView, retrieved June 10, 2026. Key entries: DIN 3 (verified complaint 5/14/26); DIN 6 (streamline track, Judge Maxine Cheesman, 5/15/26); DIN 7 (lis pendens 5/18/26, Bk 36536); DIN 14–40 (summonses 6/3–6/9/26).
  36. Party Names tab, same case, eCaseView, retrieved June 10, 2026 — 20 parties, including NBL SPV IV LLC (plaintiff); John P. Webb, Von Esselborn Inc, RP Palm Beach LLC (“an Arkansas limited liability co” per the filing), Wallisville Corporation, Small Time Restaurant Group LLC, the rooftop construction trades, the City of West Palm Beach, USA o/b/o SBA, and Rafael & Ashley Perez-Valdivia.
  37. Broward Palm Beach New Times, “Five new dining options in West Palm Beach,” Aug. 20, 2012 (“…from nearby Roxy’s Pub owner John Webb”) — browardpalmbeach.com
  38. Broward Palm Beach New Times, “The Wine Dive to open on Clematis,” Nov. 29, 2011 — browardpalmbeach.com
  39. WPTV, “‘For lease’ signs increasing on Clematis Street; Wine Dive to leave at the end of the month,” May 12, 2017 — wptv.com
  40. Sunbiz entity-name index: no Florida registration exists for “Small Time Restaurant Group LLC” (index search, June 10, 2026) — search.sunbiz.org
  41. Sunbiz, 115 South Olive Enterprises, L.L.C., Doc. No. L05000052265 (filed 2005; admin dissolved 9/27/2024; MGRM Webb, John; mailing PO Box 2390; RA Kadyszewski) — search.sunbiz.org
  42. Sunbiz, Coral Reefers Restaurant, Inc., Doc. No. P09000008128 (filed 1/27/2009; admin dissolved 9/24/2010; John Webb president/RA at 309 Clematis; no annual report ever filed) — search.sunbiz.org
  43. Sunbiz, Longhorn Valet Inc., Doc. No. P14000092339 (filed 11/12/2014; voluntarily dissolved 5/20/2021; president John Webb; RA Timothy Grice, 319 Clematis) — search.sunbiz.org
  44. Sunbiz, 309 Clematis LLC — Florida Doc. No. L20000293316 (filed 9/17/2020, voluntarily dissolved 11/17/2020) and Alaska-organized Doc. No. M20000010793 (registered in FL 11/18/2020, active, reinstated 10/31/2024), both at 309 Clematis / PO Box 2390 / RA Kadyszewski / manager Small Time Restaurant Group LLC — search.sunbiz.org
  45. Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView, party-name search “VON ESSELBORN” (starts-with), retrieved June 10, 2026 — 32 cases, 1991–2026, incl.: Funicelli v. Von Esselborn d/b/a Comeau Bar & Grill (1991-SC-021065); 319 Clematis Associates v. Von Esselborn (1997-CC-003393, 1997-CA-001768); Chancey v. Von Esselborn d/b/a Roxy’s Restaurant (2002-CA-001135); Von Esselborn v. Young Guns LLC d/b/a Release Nightclub (2005-CA-009515, 2007-CA-007224); Intrepid Electric v. Webb (2010-CA-018620); Xpert Elevator v. Von Esselborn (2010-CA-024240); Von Esselborn v. Cutcher (2011-CA-009876); Hunter v. Von Esselborn (2016-CA-012269); Vaughn v. Webb (2019-CA-006646); Eichbauer v. Roxys Pub LLC (2020-CA-000995); Perez-Valdivia v. RP Palm Beach (2021-CA-002375); Coast 2 Coast Engineering v. Von Esselborn (2021-SC-008181, 2021-CA-008817); Santos v. UTEX94 LLC (2021-CA-011845); Prado Briones v. RP Palm Beach (2022-CA-007672); Skyworks LLC v. Von Esselborn (2025-CC-007257); IAT Insurance Group v. RP Palm Beach (2025-CC-013946, open); Webb v. Newtek Small Business Finance LLC (2025-CA-012858, open); AVT Lifts LLC v. Von Esselborn d/b/a Roxys Pub (2026-CC-004407, open); NBL SPV IV LLC v. Webb (2026-CA-005474, open).
  46. Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView, Vaughn v. Webb, Case No. 50-2019-CA-006646-XXXX-MB, Party Names and Dockets tabs, retrieved June 10, 2026 — plaintiffs Bailey Vaughn and Audra O’Neill; 30 parties incl. John Webb, Sandra Webb Lawson, Von Esselborn Inc, Roxys Pub LLC, RP Palm Beach LLC, Small Time Restaurant Group LLC, UTEX94 LLC, six unknown employees; all entities represented by Ryan V. Kadyszewski; Judge Carolyn Bell; complaint 5/20/2019, fourth amended complaint 2/2022, DIN 123 notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice 5/10/2024, DIN 124 “DISPOSED AFTER OTHER” 5/10/2024.
  47. Boca Raton Magazine, “Austin Republic is open,” June 9, 2023 — bocamag.com
  48. Palm Beach Post, “South Dixie corridor gets first stacked lift-style parking at Austin Republic,” Jan. 21, 2025, via AOL — aol.com
  49. Stet News, “Austin Republic barbecue, North Palm/West Palm Beach,” July 24, 2025 (with later editor’s note re: May 2026 renovation closure) — stetnews.org
  50. Palm Beach Post, “Popular Tex-Mex barbecue restaurant [mobile kitchen closing],” via AOL — aol.com; Yelp listing (WPB, marked closed) — yelp.com
  51. Florida DBPR inspection records for “Austin Republic #2,” 661 Federal Hwy, North Palm Beach (July 10, 2025 warning, violation 51-16-7; July 14, 2025 follow-up met standards), via DirtyFL aggregator — dirtyfl.com
  52. Palm Beach County Clerk eCaseView, party-name search “AUSTIN REPUBLIC” (starts-with), retrieved June 10, 2026 — “No cases found for the Search Criteria provided.”
  53. Sunbiz entity-name index: no Florida entity named “Austin Republic” (June 10, 2026) — search.sunbiz.org
  54. Sunbiz Fictitious Name Registry: “AUSTIN REPUBLIC,” Reg. No. G23000004518 (filed 1/10/2023, active, exp. 12/31/2028, mailing PO Box 2390 WPB, owner Plantain Partners 1 LP, FEI 84-4081881) — dos.sunbiz.org; and “AUSTIN REPUBLIC FOOD TRUCK,” Reg. No. G23000004523 (filed 1/10/2023, same owner, same PO box).
  55. Sunbiz, Plantain Partners I LP, Doc. No. A19000000309 (FL LP filed 7/29/2019, active; principal 4801 S Dixie Hwy WPB; mailing PO Box 110 WPB; RA Timothy L. Grice, 319 Clematis St Ste 118; general partner BK Development Inc) — search.sunbiz.org
  56. Sunbiz, BK Development Inc, Doc. No. P19000058144 (FL corp filed 7/10/2019, active; principal 518 N Federal Hwy #15, Lake Worth Beach; mailing PO Box 110 WPB; RA Timothy L. Grice; sole officer: Thomas Wilkinson, Director) — search.sunbiz.org
  57. Sunbiz Fictitious Name Registry: “AUSTIN REPUBLIC #2,” Reg. No. G24000098329 (filed 8/19/2024, active, owner Plantain Partners II LLC, Doc. L24000236125); and Sunbiz, Plantain Partners II LLC, Doc. No. L24000236125 (FL LLC filed 5/21/2024, active; principal 661 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach; mailing PO Box 110 WPB; RA Tim Grice, 319 Clematis; manager Thomas Wilkinson) — search.sunbiz.org

Research notes: The founding-date discrepancy (1929 vs. 1933) is noted in the text. The NBL SPV IV loan figures ($4.9M/$5.1M) and the “Vault 313” venue name come from news accounts of the foreclosure complaint; both case dockets were pulled directly from the Palm Beach County Clerk’s eCaseView on June 10, 2026 (refs 34–36). The Alaska-vs-Arkansas discrepancy for RP Palm Beach LLC’s state of organization (Sunbiz “AK” vs. the foreclosure filing’s “Arkansas”) is noted in the text. No source characterizes any Webb entity as a “shell company”; the corporate-structure section reports only what Sunbiz, county property records, and court filings show. The Austin Republic ownership chain (refs 54–57) comes from the Sunbiz fictitious-name registry and entity records retrieved June 10, 2026; Webb’s connection rests on news identification (refs 47–49) plus the PO Box 2390 paper link — his name does not appear on the Plantain Partners filings, and any limited-partner stake would not be public.

Corrections & clarifications: Spotted an error or have a record we missed? Email corrections@wpbroxys.com and we’ll review it against the public record.

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