The Lighthouse restaurant, formerly the Jade Palace, was forced to close last Thursday for the second time in six months after the establishment's owner failed to pay several utility bills.

The Chinese restaurant, 111 Sowers St., was shut down by State College Deputy Sheriff Jim Grey after a writ of execution and seizure was filed by the building's owners, Armenara Office Partnerships, Grey said.

The restaurant was also closed in September by State College Borough health officials for two violations -- failure of cooks to contain their hairnets and the appearance of cockroaches.

Terry Williams, a lawyer representing the partnership, said on behalf of his clients he filed the seizure request against Urban Connections Inc., the restaurant's co-owner, after several utility bills were left unpaid.

The writ of execution gives the sheriff's office power to seize any assets of Urban Connections Inc. in lieu of payment for the past-due charges.

Owners of the building could not be reached for comment throughout the weekend.

Jack Sherlock, who is listed as co-owner of the restaurant in borough records, refused to comment on the closing, saying he was only the manager of the restaurant. Urban Connections Inc. is listed on the records as the other owner of the restaurant, said Borough Health Technician Kevin Kassab. Sherlock said his son is the major shareholder of Urban Connections Inc.

Sherlock said the borough records were incorrect in listing him as the owner and that his name was probably on the documents as a person to call in case of an emergency.

Lighthouse restaurant employees said they did not think the establishment had any financial problems until the beginning of last week.

Employees from the restaurant said new kitchen equipment and new booths were removed from the Lighthouse and put in Ferrara's of Little Italy, 124 S. Pugh St. Ferrara's is also owned by Jack Sherlock, according to employees at the establishment.

"Different things were missing Wednesday night," one employee said. "Plates were missing, chairs were different." Other items missing included an ice maker and several tables.

Another employee said Sherlock told them the booths were switched because they looked better in Ferarra's.

The beleaguered restaurant opened in State College in 1987. It has not changed owners since its opening, but the name has been altered from the Jade Palace to the Bamboo Grill to the Lighthouse.

Kassab said there have not been any noted health problems in the restaurant since health code violations were corrected last fall.