Sound Bites Cafe, the longtime Ball Square brunch destination known for both its popular breakfast dishes and years of public disputes, is up for sale.

The property at 704 Broadway was listed for $2.15 million on April 16, according to commercial real estate listings. Marked as a “hidden unpolished gem,” the sale includes the restaurant’s full liquor license and a fully installed bar and tap system.

Owner Kelard Zera declined to speak on the record and declined to confirm that the business is for sale.

Dan Mahoney of The Mahoney Group, the listing agent for the property, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Sound Bites first opened in 1996 under owner Yasser Mirza and became one of Somerville’s popular breakfast restaurants. The business gained a devoted following for its brunch offerings and played a central role in Ball Square’s well-known “Breakfast Wars” rivalry with neighboring restaurants.

In 2022, the restaurant came under scrutiny following employee complaints regarding overtime pay and workplace conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor accused Mirza of retaliating against workers who raised wage concerns, including allegations that he made threats of violence against an employee and the employee’s family. Mirza was required to pay $15,000 in punitive damages to the affected current and former employees.

Mirza sold Sound Bites to Kelard Zera on Dec. 23, 2023. The restaurant faced additional challenges during the ownership transition, including “operating without any of the necessary licenses during the beginning of 2024,” according to a May 21, 2024 Licensing Commission meeting. The city later reinstated the restaurant’s licenses.

The current listing marks another chapter for the nearly three-decade-old restaurant, which has remained a fixture of Somerville’s dining scene despite a history of legal disputes, labor complaints, and public controversies.

As of publication, Sound Bites remains open for business.