NORFOLK — Weeks after spending $150,000 to buy the entire inventory and intellectual property that once made up House of Maya, a Virginia Beach developer announced that he will host a liquidation sale of more than 2,500 dresses.
Cataldo Builders owner Anthony Cataldo won the property — which included about $2.3 million in wedding dresses, formal wear and retail equipment alone — in a Sept. 28 auction held at the former House of Maya store, located at 258 Granby Street.
Along with the inventory, Cataldo won the information of nearly 7,000 former House of Maya clients, vendor information and the rights to the business’ website.
At the time, Cataldo and his employee Diana Del Corso — who once worked as alterations and operations manager for Maya Couture — announced that together they planned to open an “integrated” bridal shop in an undisclosed location in Norfolk.
When interviewed by Southside Daily on Tuesday, Del Corso did not say what the liquidation sale means for the planned venture.
“We are still in the brainstorming phase of what our next step will be,” Del Corso said. “Anthony has spent time talking to designers and vendors and has decided it’s best to start off fresh.”
The auction and subsequent liquidation sale came in the wake of the Aug. 25 closure of House of Maya after its owner Maya Holihan surrendered her business assets to Old Point National Bank.
The move left the bank scrambling to outfit brides with their wedding dresses after Holihan shut the doors of the bridal shop without a word to her customers.
The following week, Southside Daily uncovered 10 civil claims and lawsuits filed against Holihan that revealed she is more than $200,000 in debt to former employees, unpaid landlords and American Express Bank.
Cataldo’s liquidation sale will feature bridal gowns as well as bridesmaids, flower girl, prom and special occasions dresses. There will also be jewelry, shoes and accessories on sale.
“They will be one heck of a deal,” Del Corso said when asked about a price point for the items on sale.
The sale will happen at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, located at 1000 19th Street. It will take place between Oct. 27 and Oct. 29 from noon until 9 p.m. On Oct. 30, the sale will begin at 8 a.m. and last “until the last bride,” according to a release posted on Facebook.
Buyers can use cash, checks and credit cards — but all sales are final and the items will be sold as they are.
The sale will not include furniture or retail fixtures, however, Del Corso said that there will be a separate sale for those items.
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