Vintage gift cards now worthless
By adamg - 3/26/08 - 10:08 am
ParkwayBoston.com reports on the suddenly defunct Vintage and its now worthless gift cards, highlighting a group of local hockey parents who bought $300 worth of them for their kids' coaches a week before the steak place shut down and who now can't get their phone calls returned by the owners:
"I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and attempted to give them an opportunity to make this right", O'Connor said. "They will attempt to do business around here again so I want everyone to know about this". ...
Comments
Was there a bankruptcy?
If so, the owners would need to get permission from the bankruptcy court to refund gift cards. If not, someone should find out and publish the names, home addresses, home phones, and cell phones of the owners.
That's right - let's go burn
That's right - let's go burn their house down.
If they closed without refunding the gift cards
and they are not in bankruptcy, then they have stolen from the holders of the gift cards. It is reasonable for the holders of the gift cards to visit the owners and ask for refunds.
I wonder what their method of payment was?
I hope they pooled their money but didn't pay in cash. A call to a credit card company might be helpful if Vintage is not actually filing for bankruptcy.
Chargebacks trigger a paperwork nightmare for the business owners.
Sorry kids, but gift cards
Sorry kids, but gift cards are considered "loans" once a company files for bankruptcy, and are now unrefundable and considered part of the company that went under.
There's a lesson here in exchanging your money that’s good everywhere for a token that’s good at one retailer.
Don't do it, a personalized gift card suggesting where to use a check is a much better option.
see above, though
Not every business that closes is in bankruptcy. Someone should find out whether this one is.
No indication of bancruptcy in Boston Biz Journal Article
There is no indication in the above referenced article that Parkway Holdings LLC/Vintage restaurant filed for bankruptcy. The author Naomi R. Kooker can be reached at
No indication of bankruptcy at Bankruptcy Court
I went to the US Bankruptcy Court's database and found: No bankruptcy filings for Parkway Holdings, Kurt Stenhouse or Michael Argiros. I didn't try the others because those are relatively common names and the court charges 8 cents per page (just for results, even).
Current assessed value of the property. What's interesting is that George Fontaine is still listed as the owner! However, his listed address is 404 S. Huntington Ave., which is the same address as that of Stenhouse's mortgage company (according to this page, Stenhouse is a specialist in lending money to people who want to flip property).
no bankruptcy - no bankruptcy protection
Parkway Holdings, LLC is the owner so if there is no bankruptcy filed for Parkway Holdings LLC then it is not in bankruptcy. The Boston Biz Journal article made no mention of bankruptcy either. If no bankruptcy, then no bankruptcy protection. It was Parkway Holdings' decision and their choice. I think they still have obligations under the law:
Send a dated, registered letter to Parkway Holdings, LLC identifying all of the owners by name and requesting full reimbursement for the card value. Include any documentation such a purchase receipt for the gift card but keep the card until they agree to reimburse you. Keep a copy of the letter. CC: the Attorney General. The AG's office is unlikely to intercede but they''ll have a head's up on the issue. Quick! Do it before Parkway Holdings, LLC files for bankruptcy.
hmmm... Fontaine's
I could go for a basket of the fried boneless chicken with the grilled bread appetizer dripping in butter and summer squash on the side.
Vintage owners to think about reimbursing people
ParkwayBoston.com hears from the owners, who want people to call 617-469-2600 and leave a message with the gift card number, amount of the card and a number to be called back. And after 30 days, they'll think about whether to reimburse you and how much.
Do they have any choice?
Unless they want to put the corporation into bankruptcy, I don't think they get to decide what to do. They need to refund this money, or else accept it as a credit towards eating at any other restaurant they may own. Otherwise, they probably have small claims lawsuits in their future.
And after 30 days, they'll think about...
Call a number, leave a message and hope they reimburse you in 30 days. YEA, RIGHT. What if they file bankruptcy between now and then?
Put it in writing and send it registered mail to the address of Parkway Holdings LLC. CC The Attorney General.