ABC Carpet & House is struggling to get well from the pandemic, with prospects claiming they shelled out money for orders that by no means arrived and its landlord crying foul as its Manhattan flagship falls deeper behind on lease, The Submit has realized.
Annette Gallo bought a $6,000 sectional sofa from the swanky home-furnishings retailer in April and was informed to count on the supply inside six months. A design advisor herself, Gallo did some investigating: She contacted the producer of the sofa, which informed her the unique order was by no means positioned.
Gallo stated ABC apologized, providing her a free brunch at ABC Kitchen. She declined as a result of she stated it felt like “a slap within the face. It’s not cool they’re counting on prospects’ banking establishments to foot the invoice.”
Dozens of different prospects, in the meantime, say they may solely dream of getting any such consideration from ABC.
“Can somebody please name me!!! I ordered my sofa final November and it has been a large number,” one indignant buyer posted on Oct. 28 on ABC’s Fb web page. “Now nobody is answering. Stealing my cash and never giving me something in return!”
The 124-year-old retailer – identified to generations of New Yorkers for its expensive rugs, stylish furnishings and far-out lighting fixtures – was purchased out of a COVID-driven bankruptcy in October by a consortium that primarily deals in Persian rugs, sources informed The Submit.
Nonetheless, ABC is now sitting on deposits and funds in full for furnishings and carpets – a lot of them price hundreds of {dollars} every – that had been positioned way back to a yr in the past, prospects declare. As an alternative of delivering the products, ABC has reportedly been ducking indignant queries and has even eliminated its phone quantity from its Website.
In the meantime, the owner of ABC’s flagship store at 888 Broadway in Manhattan’s stylish Flatiron District is placing strain on the retailer’s leaseholder, asking a choose to drive it to both compensate for lease or filter of the area, based on not too long ago filed court docket paperwork.
The cavernous storefront seems to be in disarray – with all however the floor ground and basement blocked off to prospects and mainstays like high-end linens and vintage furnishings largely lacking from the shop.
“The restored antiques are largely gone and there are hardly any lamps within the retailer,” noticed Kenneth Rosen, a chapter lawyer who’d bought a chandelier from the shop just a few years in the past.
What’s extra, there is no such thing as a rationalization for the adjustments to the shop – main some to marvel if the area is being prepped for a brand new tenant altogether.
“It seems to be like the owner is making an attempt to launch the area to another person and is asking the court docket to drive” ABC out, chapter professional Adam Stein-Sapir stated of Columbia Property Trust, which owns 888 Broadway.
An ABC Carpet spokesperson stated in a press release to The Submit that the corporate has a long-term lease at 888 Broadway and “is dedicated to sustaining” the situation as its flagship — even including again extra flooring “within the close to future.” ABC stated it was “partaking with the owner” on the area. A consultant for the owner didn’t reply to a request for remark.
And amid complaints from prospects, ABC’s spokesperson stated the retailer’s new homeowners are “targeted on delivering an important procuring expertise to prospects.”
“This contains one-on-one engagement with valued purchasers to satisfactorily handle open orders and dealing intently with provider companions to make sure completion of all orders as quickly as doable in mild of continued pandemic-related provide chain delays affecting your complete trade,” the spokesperson stated, including that the retailer’s telephone quantity “stays” on the corporate’s Website.
ABC was burning by means of $500,000 every week earlier than its holding firm – managed by the Weinrib household that had run the storied retailer for greater than a century – declared chapter in September as coronavirus lockdowns walloped retailer site visitors and its cumbersome furnishings items failed to maneuver on the Internet.
Now, ABC’s new homeowners proceed responsible the pandemic and associated supply-chain issues for the delays in delivering orders already paid for. The shop has pushed again supply dates a number of occasions, together with for gadgets that prospects stated had been on the showroom ground or listed as in-stock, based on social media posts and interviews with prospects.
ABC Carpet has responded to among the complaints on Instagram and Fb, conceding that its “lack of communication is inexcusable” and that it’s “working across the clock to succeed in out to all prospects with unfulfilled orders.”
Some prospects had been additionally informed on its social media accounts: “We’re sincerely sorry for any frustration we have now prompted. We guarantee you this isn’t our intention and we’re dedicated to honoring each buy. We’re working in opposition to world provide chain challenges from the pandemic in addition to an inner transition of possession.”
For some longtime prospects of ABC, its newest mea culpa is simply too little, too late.
Maryana Grinshpun, who runs a design enterprise, purchased a aspect desk and credenza for $5,000 for a shopper two days earlier than ABC Carpet filed for chapter in September. The tables had been sitting on the showroom ground and had been purported to be delivered in October, she informed The Submit. ABC later informed her they had been “bought out” of these tables.
Like dozens of consumers who tried to name the retailer in October and November, Grinshpun discovered the telephone numbers had been “disconnected.” She managed to get a refund from her bank card firm – and informed The Submit that she’d “by no means” buy from ABC Carpet once more.
One other buyer wrote on Fb final month: “I paid in full for a settee and ottoman in February.” The shopper was informed by her bank card firm to contact ABC, however she famous “ABC took their telephone quantity off their Website.”
The long-lasting retailer had been headed earlier than its chapter by Paulette Cole, a great-granddaughter of founder Sam Weinrib, who retains a minority stake within the new possession construction.
The lease for ABC is held by a separate firm owned by Cole; that firm, AMMA421, stays in chapter and has stated in court docket filings that it will possibly’t pay lease.
Already shrunk from six to 3 flooring and the basement, the shop not too long ago closed the second and third flooring and the balcony on the primary ground the place it had bought lamps and furnishings.
The carpets have been moved from the higher flooring to the basement and the bottom ground, the place they had been by no means displayed beforehand. The elevator financial institution and staircase by the Broadway entrance have been boarded up and a brand new, fashionable elevator financial institution was put in in the back of the shop.
“There’s no signal saying ‘Look ahead to the grand reopening of the second and third flooring,’” Rosen identified. “I had the sensation that the constructing was – or has been – renovated in contemplation of it being leased to a different retailer.”
