Smitty’s Service Center, located in Newark, N.J., was the state’s first Black-owned garage, but after opening 93 years ago, the company is facing eviction after the city seized it due to the non-payment of taxes.
According to NJ.com, the auto shop, which was initially opened in the 1920s and ended up being owned by Arthur Smith Sr., is now run by his grandson, Anthony Smith. Smith has admitted that he was unable to keep up with the penalties on top of the taxes owed, roughly around half a million dollars. Now, the city will take it over, as Smith stated, he “can’t come up” with the money to keep the business from the city of Newark.
“I was behind on my taxes,” Smith said. “And I just conceded with the city. I just said, ‘You know, I can’t come up with that.’ It’s family-owned. I’m not a company operation. I’m a small entity.”…