A bank has taken over a downtown Norfolk bridal shop whose owner, according to court documents, is deeply in debt — leaving anxious brides-to-be scrambling for new dresses.
On Friday, store owner Maya Holihan gave up ownership of her bridal store, House of Maya, to Old Point National Bank.
The change came after two lawsuits were filed against Holihan for debts owed to American Express Bank and her former landlord, Palace Station LLC, according to documents filed in Norfolk Circuit Court.
In both cases, judges ruled in favor of the companies — who sought payment of debts totaling more than $87,000 — after Holihan was served the lawsuits but failed to respond to the court by set deadlines, court documents state.
Holihan’s former 13,000-square-foot location at 258 Granby St. opened in the spring of this year after she announced that she was consolidating four existing dress salons into a major shop. Those salons included Pure English Couture Bridal, Silk Social Occasion Studio, Maya Couture and Maya Couture on Main.
In a February news release, Holihan said that the Granby Street shop would serve as a headquarters, allowing for a more “streamlined and efficient operation”; however, when a reporter visited the store on Monday morning, a sign posted on the door read:
“House of Maya Bridal is presently in the process of a change in ownership. Your patience during this time is appreciated. While the store will be operating on limited hours and special appointments only, the priority is to reach out and communicate with customers who are waiting on orders, are currently in the alterations process, or have merchandise to pick up, so their needs are met expeditiously.”
The sign also provided a phone number that customers could call for instructions on how to pick up their purchased merchandise.
A reporter called the number, which went to a voicemail that was completely full. Someone from the number called back, but when a reporter answered the phone they could only hear background noise. A reporter attempted to call the number back but received the voicemail message again.
Deep in debt
The first lawsuit against Holihan was filed by American Express Bank. In it, the bank sought to collect $30,977.26 owed by Holihan for charges made to a Business Platinum Card taken out for Maya Couture on Nov. 21, 2014, court documents state.
Although Holihan was served the lawsuit on April 20 and given two extended deadlines to respond to the court — one for May 22 and another for June 5 — she failed to do so, according to court documents.
Holihan was initially represented by a Norfolk firm named Pierce McCoy PLLC. The firm withdrew in an unopposed motion on May 23. Pierce McCoy attorney Julia Rust, who once represented Holihan in Norfolk Circuit Court, did not respond to a request for comment before the time of publication.
The Virginia Business Entity database still lists the law firm as the registered agent for House of Maya Online LLC; however, it also shows the company as being “fee delinquent.”
Holihan’s second deadline to respond to the court passed on June 5. A month later, American Express Bank notified her that if she did not respond to the lawsuit within an additional 10 days, the company would ask a judge to rule in their favor by default, court documents state.
Those 10 days passed, and on July 28 a Norfolk Circuit Court judge ruled that Holihan was responsible for paying American Express Bank $31,135.26 in debt and court fees.
A second lawsuit was filed against Holihan on April 25 — this time by her former landlord, Palace Station.
The company sued for nearly $50,000 that Holihan owed for the rental of property located at 350 W. 22nd St. in Norfolk, where she ran Privée Bride of Ghent, court documents show.
According to court documents, Holihan signed a nearly six-year lease for the Palace Shops and Station space on July 25, 2015. The terms of the lease included a monthly rent, which Holihan stopped paying consistently as it was due on Nov. 1, 2015.
The unpaid rent, late fees and interest owed to Palace Station added up to $49,614.25 by April 6, 2017.
Holihan was served the lawsuit on April 27. On June 2, a Norfolk judge again offered her an extension to respond to the lawsuit against her, but she did not respond. On June 30, a judge issued a default ruling in favor of Palace Station and ordered Holihan to pay the company $54,879.25 in debts, court costs and attorney fees, court documents show.
A third civil action was filed against Holihan in Norfolk Circuit Court on July 27. The action was filed on behalf of Palace Station, which continued to seek debt collection — this time directly from Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T).
Although the Virginia Courts Case Information System shows that the case is still active, an Aug. 10 letter from BB&T shows the bank was unable to process Palace Station’s legal request because Holihan’s business no longer existed.
“We are unable to process this document as received because the entity listed as garnishee is no longer in existence,” the letter states.
Old Point National Bank spokeswoman Erin Black said that the bank is working with Holihan to get dress orders out to the brides as fast as possible. Holihan did not respond to several requests for comment Monday.
A vendor’s story
Adam Yaseen owns Lori London Bridal Millinery in Durham, N.C. and has worked with House of Maya in the past. His business provides brides with veils, head pieces and accessories.
Yaseen said that Holihan owes him more than $1,800, which he tried to collect from her on Aug. 25 — the day she closed up shop.
“She gave me a credit card and asked me to charge it,” he said. “It didn’t go through.”
He added that in the last week he has become aware of “a number of unscrupulous decisions” made by Holihan that involve other bridal industry businesses. He said that Holihan allegedly sold one company’s sample gowns off of the rack instead of returning them to the vendor.
“I am one of her smaller debts,” Yaseen said.
Yaseen said Holihan’s shop is not the first bridal store he’s seen close mysteriously when brides were expecting their dresses. He noted a North Carolina store whose owner allegedly took money from brides, but failed to order their gowns before locking her doors without warning.
He warned worried brides to take their dress receipts and contact gown manufacturers directly to explain the situation, adding that the wedding industry is a small world that has a “no bride left behind” policy.
“What I’ve been told is that for brides who ordered their gowns, they will be delivered — that the bank is taking everything in, and they will be distributing to the brides and collecting the money,” Yaseen said.
“They are not technically shutting it down,” he added. “I have been informed that the entire thing is currently for sale … I am hoping that this is indeed the case, given the fact that them selling the business is the only way I will recover my funds.”
Unsatisfied customers leave scathing reviews
It is unclear how many companies and brides are impacted by Old Point National Bank’s seizure of House of Maya. It is equally unclear how many people — brides and vendors — were alerted to the seizure before it happened.
In an email obtained by WYDaily, Holihan informed one vendor of the closure on Monday morning — three days after it happened.
“I write this note to you with a deeply broken heart, to let you know that as of Friday House of Maya Bridal (Maya Couture LLC) is no longer in business,” she wrote. “I turned the business over to the bank on Friday. With my cooperation and ‘behind the scenes’ assistance they will continue to operate the business with limited hours … The bank and I have a shared goal to get the business sold as quickly as possible! It’s going to be a great bargain for some investor!”
She ended the email, writing, “I apologize for the situation this puts you in. Hopefully, we’ll be able to work together in the future, with a better financial foundation. Respectfully, Maya”
Although WYDaily was unable to directly contact brides who were impacted by Holihan’s departure, several Yelp reviews apparently left by angry customers painted a picture of growing frustration.
A person who reviewed Holihan’s business under the name “Hazel B.” wrote on Aug. 10, “Horrible business practices and communication. Put my dress on consignment with a HOM partner company earlier this year. Went to pick up my dress at the end of the consignment period and the store was vacant. No letter. No phone call.”
Another person, who left an Aug. 29 review under the name “Jane D.” said that she paid for an “expensive” wedding gown in May, but as of the middle of August, it still hadn’t been ordered by House of Maya.
Jane D. added that she went to the store in person to demand a full refund before it closed. She was able to pick up a check a few weeks later, but was unable to cash it until Aug. 25 — the day the store closed.
Another person, who complained on Yelp on May 3 under the name “Courtney M.,” wrote that she was so excited to be a “Maya bride” that she flew to the Norfolk shop from South Carolina in 2016.
She said that she paid for her dress in full in July of 2016 and was told it would be ready before the holiday season. She booked a flight to Norfolk to try on the dress, but it wasn’t ready.
The woman’s dress was finally ready weeks before her April wedding. The business allegedly promised to reimburse her for a second flight to Norfolk, but as of May 2017 she hadn’t been paid or received a formal apology.
Are you a bride to be who is waiting on her dress from House of Maya? Contact the reporter at [email protected].
Amy Poulter contributed to this story.
This article was published in partnership with WYDaily’s sister publication, Southside Daily.
Editor’s note: House of Maya currently owes our parent company Local Voice money for advertising.
