Patrick Dempsey, star of the Seattle-based show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, put his substantial bank account and dreamy smile to work in winning a bid for bankrupt Seattle-based coffee chain Tully’s.

Last month Dempsey joined forces with Global Baristas LLC, a group hoping to save the beleaguered company. Just last week the actor’s group managed to beat out rival Starbucks in an auction held January 3. The problem, according to Starbucks and venture partner AgriNurture, is that Dempsey and his associates won with a $9.15 million bid, while the international coffee giant offered $10.5 million.

Starbucks and other auction losers took their complaints to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Seattle on Friday, claiming they were ignored due to Dempsey’s inimitable “McDreamy” charm, the Wall Street Journal reports.

A private equity firm based in Denver, which started the auction off with a $4.3 million bid, claimed Mr. Dempsey’s celebrity status created a spectacle that “may have impeded financing for qualified bidders and creates the appearance that its bid was favored.”

The complainants may have had the cards stacked against them, according to their own logic. It just so happened that the judge hearing the case, Karen Overstreet, was a woman. Ms. Overstreet ultimately ruled in favor of the actor’s bid in the hearing Friday.

“Patrick is certainly charming. I don’t know if he’s that charming, but we won today because we have the best plan for the company,” said Michael Avenatti of Dempsey’s group, Global Baristas LLC.

The Seattle Times described Dempsey and his associates as a “rescue squad” for the recession-battered chain. “I’ve been deeply humbled by the outpouring of support from the city of Seattle and am very proud to be a new business owner in this amazing city,” Dempsey said in a statement. “We have a lot to accomplish over the next few months and years, and I am excited to now call Seattle my second home.”

Tully’s itself threw its support behind the group’s offer to save the company and its 480 jobs. The day after the auction, Mr. Dempsey visited a Tully’s branch alongside Chief Executive Scott Pearson, much to the delight of the baristas working there. “Seattle has been very good to me over my career, and I am honored to have the privilege to own Tully’s and work closely with the company’s employees,” said Dempsey.

“After a celebratory cup of Joe, we will immediately begin the transition of the company and implementing our vision for quality customer service and building the Tully’s brand.”

Starbucks had planned to hang its own sign at the 13 Tully’s locations, adding to the 700 stores it already operates in Washington state alone. The company would then draw on its own international supply chains, rather than that of Tully’s supplier Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Green Mountain promised to cause complications for Starbucks had they won the bid, said Mr. Pearson. As Tully’s exclusive roaster the company had the power to delay the sale significantly. With Green Mountain’s blessing, however, Dempsey’s group could take over operations by the end of the month.

After the successful hearing Friday, Dempsey expressed his excitement on Twitter, gushing “We won!!! We won!!! Thank you Seattle! See you soon!”

Users responded with equal enthusiasm, saying “Thank U 4 saving Tully’s!”, and “GREAT!!! Great Patrick, this is really a good news! I’m happy for you and @Tullys_Shops !!!!”

“Are you hiring???” asked another Twitter user, suggesting that Tully’s wasn’t the only one affected by the recession. Or maybe they just hoped to catch a glimpse of McDreamy’s famous smile at the next company meeting.