House of Maya in Norfolk may be closed, but Maya Holihan is back in business.
More than two months after she closed the doors of House of Maya and surrendered her business assets to Old Point National Bank, the former bridal store behemoth launched a new website advertising her mentoring and business consultation services.
Once Hampton Roads’ premier bridal chain, the sudden closure of House of Maya on Aug. 25 — which left dozens of brides in the lurch, in some cases days before their weddings — came about six months after Holihan announced that she would be bringing her business to 258 Granby St. as a consolidated headquarters for four of her salons, Pure English Couture Bridal, Silk Social Occasion, Maya Couture and Maya Couture on Main.
She touted the 13,000-square-foot shop as a place that would serve as her headquarters, allowing for a more “streamlined and efficient” operation; however, court documents show the move came in the midst of 10 civil actions against Holihan that show she is more than $200,000 in debt to former landlords at all four salon locations, ex-employees and a credit card company.
https://wydaily.com/2017/09/03/house-of-maya-owes-about-200000-to-unpaid-employees-landlords-biz/
Now, it seems that Holihan is stepping out of the bridal business and moving into mentoring and consultation opportunities, according to the website.
Although the business consultation portion of the website seems to be unfinished and lacks details about price, Holihan is offering mentoring services in $35-an-hour chunks under the brand “Maya Inspired Mentoring.”
“We’re not all self-starters, but I am,” the website states. “As your mentor, I will be the spark plug to help you ignite your engine … By infusing my real life experiences, lessons, and practices, and examining yours, I will craft an inspiration plan that will enable you to be your own spark plug!”
The website states that more products will be available soon, and also has clickable tabs where users can explore Holihan’s past speaking engagements — including a Retail Alliance webinar on business growth and managing more than one location. It also advertises Holihan as a writer, adding that she is interested in writing editorial and advertising content, press releases, business letters and speeches, according to the website.
It also states that she’ll soon be publishing a bridal shopping guide titled “Happily Altered After.”
“I’d love to put pen to paper for you, and help you hone your message. Contact me for a complimentary consultation today,” the website states.
Another component of the website is a blog titled “Maya Inspired.” In the first entry, dated Oct. 31, Holihan wrote about her background growing up in Cape Cod, her and her twin brother’s adoption, her 22-year career in fashion and bridal gowns and the closure of House of Maya.
“I lost it all, very publicly, in the blink of an eye! Something of this magnitude would’ve destroyed most people,” she wrote. “Not me. I’ve learned many lessons, and continue to be reflective and humbled. What I haven’t done is dwell. To dwell is a dangerous inaction; it holds you in your past and clouds your ability to be present. If you stay in the past, you can’t possibly have visions for your future.”
Holihan did not respond to WYDaily’s request for comment on the new business venture, but on Oct. 28 the Virginian-Pilot published an article in which she said she’d known her business was in trouble for about two years.
Between the investment in three competing bridal shops and falling revenue, her consolidation to the Granby Street location — which she hoped would save the business — failed and she had to hand the keys to Old Point, according to the Virginian-Pilot.
In September, Cataldo Builders owner Anthony Cataldo paid $150,000 in an auction for $2.3 million in former House of Maya merchandise and announced his plan to open up a consolidated bridal store in Norfolk.
A month later, Cataldo held a liquidation sale of more than 2,500 House of Maya dresses.
“We are still in the brainstorming phase of what our next step will be,” ex-House of Maya manager and current Cataldo employee Diana Del Corso said. “Anthony has spent time talking to designers and vendors and has decided it’s best to start off fresh.”
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This story was published in partnership with our sister publication, Southside Daily.
