One of Hampton Roads' most popular bridal shops closes abruptly … – The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
One of the most popular bridal shops in Hampton Roads has closed.
House of Maya Bridal, which earlier this year consolidated four boutiques into a new downtown headquarters on Granby Street, shut its doors late last week after judges in two lawsuits ordered Maya Couture LLC and its owner, Maya Holihan, to pay more than $87,000 in back rent and credit-card debt.
All that said, the place may not have looked closed to some on Thursday as a steady stream of customers moved in and out of the place.
Employees of Hampton-based Old Point National Bank, the secured creditor, were admitting customers one at a time, trying to get as much of the inventory as possible out the door.
“We do not desire to be managing Maya’s bridal business, but being a community bank, we’re sensitive to the needs of the community,” said Clay Minter, a bank vice president, adding that he had personally delivered 25 dresses out the door on Wednesday and at least that many on Thursday. Teamwide, the numbers were greater than that.
Kiera Ricks of Chesapeake left with her mother’s $1,400 wedding gown draped over her arm. Her mother, Rosalee Ricks, pushed back her original Sept. 9 wedding date because she was concerned the dress wouldn’t be ready, her daughter said.
“She was having issues,” she added.
All seven bridesmaid dresses were ordered there, too, though they were picked up a couple of weeks ago.
Heather Hartig was there with her fiance, Nate Orlando, to check on alterations for her dress, which is in the shop. Their wedding date is Sept. 30.
Orlando’s mother ordered her dress in June but was told early this month that her dress wouldn’t be ready until the middle of October. She eventually ordered a different dress.
Orlando described the situation as a “fiasco.” His mother saw the signs on the doors, announcing the closing, when she went to the store last weekend in hopes of matching shoes with the dress.
“Nobody was communicating with us,” Hartig said. “Nobody knew what was going on.”
Old Point has taken ownership of the business’ retail assets, though not the business itself, said Erin Black, senior vice president and marketing director for the bank.
The phone message for House of Maya Bridal says it’s “currently in the process of changing ownership.”
A sign on the door of the Granby Street shop reads the same.
Court records show that lawsuits were filed against bridal shop owner Holihan and Maya Couture in Norfolk Circuit Court by American Express Bank and the landlord of another property in Ghent, Palace Station LLC, previously home to Privee Bride of Ghent.
A garnishment hearing has been set for Sept. 14, according to court records.
People who call House of Maya are instructed to dial another number, 757-759-1673, to pick up any “previously ordered merchandise.”
A message at that number says the shop was operating under limited hours and by appointment only.
Black said the bank has set up its own number and email address to expedite the process of uniting brides with their gowns.
“Our people are working to get these dresses out as fast as possible,” Black said. “We’re working very quickly to connect the two.”
Black said brides should call 757-514-1052 or email inquiries@houseofmayabride.com.
“The last thing we want is for a bride to not have a dress on her wedding day,” she added.
Holihan did not return phone calls Thursday.
Lee Tolliver, 757-222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com Follow @LeeTolliver on Twitter.
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