First National Beef & Brew under new management?

First National Beef & Brew, 108 Court St., may have a change in management.

Operations manager Gordon D. Silverthorne is turning recipes over to Thomas J. Shultz, according rumors heard in multiple public meetings recently. Mr. Silverthorne has also told reporters, diners and members of Advantage Watertown that he has allowed management hired by Mr. Shultz to operate the restaurant for three months. If the business was to Mr. Shultz’s liking, he could then submit a purchase offer.

Within the last month, management at the restaurant has confirmed that Mr. Shultz is the new owner, although repeated calls to Mr. Shultz, owner of Re-Sale America and the newly-opened Candyland in Salmon Run Mall, were unreturned.

Beef & Brew has at least one outstanding loan with Watertown Local Development Corp., also known as Watertown Trust. Trust CEO Donald W. Rutherford said he didn’t know anything final about the change in management, but that the restaurant is current in repaying its loans.

Beef & Brew owner Michael J. Hennegan said he did not want to comment on it at this time.

For those of you who have not made your way to the restaurant, it is the former home of the House of Gee.

Got a city rumor? E-mail Robert Brauchle. A business rumor? E-mail Nancy Madsen.