Celebrity Chef Barbara Lynch Set To Hold Huge Estate Sale at $2.35 Million Home After Being Sued Over $1.7 Million in Unpaid Property Taxes

Beleaguered celebrity chef Barbara Lynch will sell off a treasure trove of art, vintage cookware, and furniture from inside her $2.35 million Gloucester, MA, home in a massive estate sale—after it was revealed that she is being sued by city of Boston for $1.7 million in unpaid personal property taxes.

Lynch, 60, a former star of the popular show “Top Chef,” recently announced the closure of her remaining restaurants, marking a sad milestone for the woman once branded a “trailblazer in Boston’s culinary industry.”

The A-list restaurateur denied the allegations made against her in the lawsuit, saying in a statement that the accusations were “false” and that she had not crossed any “professional guideposts” in her career.

“I expressly reject the various false accusations lodged against me that I have behaved inappropriately with employees or crossed professional guideposts that are important to me,” she said, per The Boston Globe.

“I cannot put out all the fires that flare in this high stress environment and my very modest roots allow me to recognize that I’m far from being above reproach.”

The lawsuit against Lynch claims her seven restaurants have amassed a “vast amount of taxes,” stating that some have gone unaddressed for over a decade, according to the Globe. However, her lawyer argued that the suit should not be filed solely against Lynch but instead also target her corporate shareholders and other entities.

On Dec. 4, the city’s lawyer agreed to amend the lawsuit to reflect this—however, noted that the circumstances of the lawsuit remain the same.

South Boston-born

Lynch, 60, was born in South Boston, one of six children to a single mother. She started working in restaurants at the age of 15 and never finished high school. Eventually, her restaurant empire oversaw some 220 employees and grossed $20 million a year. Her eateries included No. 9 Park, Menton, Sportello, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, and the Rudder.

In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People of the Year.”

Since then, her legacy has become tied to some infamous reports of workplace toxicity allegations, casting a dark shadow over her storied career—which has now resulted in the closure of all of her restaurants and the upcoming estate sale, which will be held Dec. 7.

Estate sale setup

The estate sale will be held in Gloucester and will include a vast array of items, according to the company that is hosting it, Best Rate Cleanouts & Estate Sales.

Items available include everything from antiques fine furniture and decor, works of art (including Matisse lithographs), and cookbooks, according to the description of the sale.

Fans of the chef (or those looking for memorabilia from a favorite eating establishment) can grab an apron emblazoned with Lynch’s name. Images shared of the lot items that are set to be included reveal an incredible collection of items, including antique furniture and an array of books.

Chris Jordan, the owner of Best Rate Cleanouts & Estate Sales, told the Globe he expects a large turnout of looky-loos and maybe buyers, too.

“Just because of who she is,” Jordan said. “There’s going to be a lot of people who are curious. I think it will be a good crowd.”

From bright star to embattled figure

In October, the James Beard Award winner announced the closure of The Rudder in Gloucester, as well impending plans to shut down No. 9 Park and B&G Oysters in Boston, Eater Boston reported.

The following month she was slapped with the tax lawsuit, which led to some 400 items coming up for the estate sale.

In a statement at the time, Lynch said of the closures, “I am very proud of what I have achieved over three decades, creating these much-loved entities where so many of you chose to celebrate your special occasions.

“The harsh realities of the global pandemic and the many difficulties faced calls for significant investment, which neither myself nor my fellow shareholders are positioned to do.”

Inside Barbara Lynch’s stunning Gloucester home

Lynch lives in an “enchanting” residence in the waterfront village of Annisquam. The property boasts “rolling lawns,” and “stunning” interior details, according to its listing, which appeared in September, before being taken down just one month later.

The property, which is spread across two lots, features six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, while a carriage house on the 4-acre plot comes with a three-car garage and a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment above it.

Unsurprisingly, one of the property’s most standout areas is the beautiful open-plan kitchen, which features an Aga induction range, granite counters, and two dishwashers, making it perfect for any budding chefs who go through more than their fair share of dishes.

Adding further comfort to the kitchen area is a beautiful fireplace—a feature that is also present in the glass-walled, three-season room.

Despite the bitter winter weather in Massachusetts, the home also boasts an outdoor swimming pool that residents can enjoy during the warmer months.

The property was originally listed for $2.35 million.