Murphy’s Law receives notice of seizure from Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Murphy’s Law in downtown Bryan has been closed following a notice of seizure served Tuesday from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

A spokesperson from the Comptroller’s Office said the business owes more than $250,000 in unpaid taxes and fees, and it’s not the first time the agency has taken action against Murphy’s Law.

Brazos County public records show a lien filed in July of 2023 for an estimated $17,000 in unpaid taxes.

Kevin Lyons, a spokesperson for the agency, said the office is taking ‘available collection actions’ against the business for its unpaid taxes.

Now, the bar’s owner is on the hook and at risk of losing its property. It’s not just the back taxes owed, as additional fees, such as interest, are added to the amount due.

Now, it’s a race against the clock to have their property returned and the business has to pay in full before the property gets sold to cover the debt.

In the meantime, a handwritten ‘closed’ sign has been posted on the door, and the unexpected closure is leaving customers disappointed and impacting a group of Bryan High School alumni.

The class of 1974 booked Murphy’s Law to hold part of their 50-year reunion this May. They say the building’s accessible second floor made it the perfect choice.

“Some of our guests would not be able to do the stairs. We just wanted to have that accessibility, you know,” Julia Ruiz, a Bryan High alumni working on planning the reunion, said.

She found out about the current closure from her Facebook group and now they’re looking for answers.

“We have 157 classmates supposedly showing up. We’re already receiving payments for our event. I mean, it’s a big deal,” she said.

It’s left Ruiz and her classmates wondering if they’ll have another venue available by May. The group paid a $250 deposit over a month ago, but Ruiz said the check has yet to be cashed.

“We’ll just have to play it day by day and hopefully, we will probably have to come to a conclusion if we don’t hear anything back from them,” she said.

KBTX has reached out to the owner of Murphy’s Law for comment multiple times and has yet to receive a response.