If you know Edgar, you might want to remind him he has some unfinished business on Broadway.
After CHS reported that boutique Edgar the Store had shut down for good on Broadway earlier this month, we heard from a few people who wanted to know if we had contact information for Edgar Lee, the man who opened the north Broadway shop in summer 2009. Unfortunately, one contact phone number for Lee has been disconnected and the other rings to voicemail.
Here are a few comments left on our post about the closure:
- Unfortunate to see it go … Now, if could get the items I had on consignment back, not to mention the money owed me … Related phone numbers are all “voice mail is full”. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
- Edgar closed and took off with my inventory of jewelry worth over 1000 dollars. Where are you Edgar Lee?
- I didn’t find out the store was closed til a week or so ago when I walked by, which is what I get for not reading CHS blog more frequently. I just thought he had forgotten to get ahold of me, or was caught up in returning everyone else’s consigments and would get to me soon enough. But seeing as several other local crafters are having the same problem that I am, it might be time to take steps. I left a message at the number Deran posted (thanks Deran!), and will file a report at the E. Precinct in the next few days as well. It might just be a case of being busy, but its been weeks and I’d like my goods back or paid for.
At least two people we have had contact with say they had consignments with the store that were never settled. And, while some of the dollar values are small, for at least one of the people hoping to hear from Lee, selling her bags is part of her livelihood.
It also turns out artists aren’t the only people Lee skipped town on. We have been told Lee also left behind landlord issues. Craig Swanson of Redside Partners who leases the building declined to get into specifics but did tell us there were issues with Lee’s exit. “While we look for another good tenant for the north end of Broadway, we’re disappointed that the prior tenant in the 617 space didn’t fulfill his obligations or promises,” Swanson wrote.
CHS is helping people with consignments — and landlords if they need it — try to contact Lee. We’ll update further when we learn more.
to bug out without returning people’s stuff. I wonder how many thousands of dollars worth of items there are to be returned.
Is anyone checking online auction sites & Craigslist?
My first thought is, what is in the contract you have signed with him. You *do* have something in writing do you not? Artists are notoriously sloppy about this sort of thing, usually to their loss.
If the contract states he is obligated to return the items if unsold after a certain period of time or if he closes up shop or otherwise ceases to make them available for sale, then you can file a theft report with police if he doesn’t return them. (Note: I am not a lawyer)
You may also have grounds for a civil suit for monies owedd, again depending on the contract. If there is a specificed period after sale to pay you, you may have to wait out that contract period. If you didn’t have something in writing, you’re pretty much hosed as it will be your word against his and he can say he intended to set up shop again quite soon and so on.
Get it in writing or don’t bother going into business, even the nice guys go broke sometimes and when the money is thin, temptation looms large.
I wonder if anyone has checked with Myron, who owned the frame shop on 15th and then moved in with Edgar?
I really wish this would be a police matter and not a blog topic since this is all “alleged” at this point. Maybe there is an explanation here. I vote for a blog post AFTER a police report is filed but that’s just me.
It’s been 4 weeks since our initial report. With the time that has passed, the number of people who have provided information and the consistency in their stories, I’m satisfied that this is the right time to report on the situation.
I think he lives on Vashon Island.
Consignment issues seem fair game. BUT, what kind of landlord talks business to the media. None.
By the way, high rent, gouging rents are a problem on Bwy. to many businesses. In any case, landlords need to keep business private.
Take a loss, and move on. Big world out there, next tenant might make it and stay for 20 years …
Edgar came through and brought my jewelry back. He was a little slow, but he appoligized and I’m happy to have all my inventory back.
Edger still has quite a number of my original art pieces. How did you finally get ahold of him. I would love some assistance. It’s been over a year now.