Willow Massage and Spa suddenly closes, leaving customers and employees in limbo

GILBERT, AZ (3Tv set/CBS 5) – A spa in Gilbert closed in April right after new ownership took about, but customers say they weren’t supplied any warning, and previous staff members say they are however ready on their paychecks. In 2014, Tracey Groy opened up Willow Massage + Spa, hoping to deliver a minimal rest to Gilbert. Following virtually 8 several years, she decided to sell the small business in buy to concentrate on her household. She reported she fulfilled the new proprietor, Wendy Weisflog, by a business enterprise broker.

“She desired a pleasant turnkey compact spa and she loved the place,” explained Groy. “I told her I want her to be effective. You know, I place my lifestyle in this and I feel it was probably March that items sort of…yea.” In brokerage paperwork presented by Groy, the title is outlined as “Wendy Weiss” nevertheless her signature exhibits a different “Weisflog.” According to federal court docket documents from 2019, a decide barred Weisflog from partaking in small business tied to healthcare places of work, chiropractic treatment, and beauty methods. She also took a plea deal in 2016 for health care fraud.

“We identified a large amount of stuff that was disturbing. In particular for me, I’m an aesthetician, and she’s barred from the State Board of Cosmetology. And suitable absent I believed, ‘Oh no, I do not have a task anymore,’” claimed a single former worker who wanted to stay anonymous. This staff claimed she worked at Willow for 4 many years in advance of quitting in March.

“It went from every day becoming like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so psyched to go to operate!’ to ‘What the heck is going to occur currently,’” she mentioned. Quite a few workers, like this 1, reported they did not acquire their last paychecks soon after resigning. “I’m continue to awaiting paycheck, and we agreed on a pay out day for the $1,811 that she nonetheless owes me for services I have presented and now done, and ideas and opening and closing duties that occurred in March,” said Holly Femrite, a different employee who resigned.

In April, Willow Massage + Spa shut devoid of see. “People could not get in for appointments. Like the telephone wasn’t remaining answered, emails weren’t being returned,” Groy explained. Numerous buyers advised Arizona’s Household that their credit score card were nonetheless currently being charged for membership costs. “As significantly as I know she’s continue to accumulating membership fees devoid of any providers using put,” Femrite said.

“I imagine the worst portion is is there are shoppers who have experienced appointments, who ended up so thrilled to chill out, who were being driving not from Gilbert but from Phoenix, from Tempe, who are vacationing in this article that experienced appointments. And they arrived here, and the doors are locked, and nobody’s answering their phone calls,” reported the anonymous former personnel. “There are people today who have been associates for 7-8 several years who are coming to the doorways, and the doors are locked. And that is a new practical experience for them since we’re usually open up and welcoming. And there are people getting charged now [for] the $60-$65 for their membership rate, and no a person is getting in touch with them.”

Arizona’s Family members arrived at out to Weisflog for a response. She statements she offered the business in April, and that Groy is the a person obtaining membership charge payments. Groy provided paperwork proving the small business was bought to Weisflog as well as furnished an e mail from MindBody Organization stating that the existing operator of Willow Therapeutic massage + Spa is Weisflog.

Arizona’s Spouse and children achieved out to the Arizona Corporation Fee to identify if in simple fact Weisflog marketed the small business in April, but we have not read back. Prospects who feel they have been a sufferer of shopper fraud are inspired to file a complaint with the Arizona Legal professional General’s Office.

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