Jefferson’s Restaurant is expected to reopen soon under new ownership, said Jeff Webb, owner of the franchise.

Earlier this month, the downtown establishment was shut down by the Kansas Department of Revenue because owner Jason Franklin failed to pay close to $47,000 in taxes. Last week, the department of revenue removed the restaurant’s assets from the building at 743 Mass. Those items will be sold at a public auction. The dollar bills that customers pinned to the walls remained in the building.

On Wednesday, Webb, who was in Lawrence, said he is working to line up new owners for the Lawrence restaurant, which is part of a franchise of 12 restaurants in the South and Midwest.

Webb opened the Lawrence restaurant in 2000. Franklin took over ownership of the restaurant in 2005.