Discount clothier Steve & Barry's has filed for bankruptcy twice over the past few months, and is not undergoing a total liquidation of all of its stores. But there's more drama still to be had.The New York Post reports that New York City mega-landlord Jeff Sutton has sued founders Steven Shore and Barry Prevor, along with the company's CFO and real estate director for fraud, alleging that they misappropriated $1 million set aside for store improvements.
Lawyers for the creditors' committee are also looking into the company's methods for inventory accounting.
Steve & Barry's relied heavily on payments made by landlords for opening new stores in spots vacated by downsizing chains. The landlords were desperate for tenants, and were willing to make larger than usual allowances for renovation. But Sutton claims that the company collected $122 million from landlords but only spent $59 million on building new stores. The balance of the money, he claims, was inappropriately used for operating expenses.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-29-2008 @ 11:23PM
stoke the fire said...
Wow! It's only taken a couple years for everyone to catch on to how they did it... Hmmm. Karma. Looks like they finally pissed off someone with enough clout to push back.
12-29-2008 @ 11:33PM
Lin said...
and is not undergoing a total liquidation of all of its stores.
I think perhaps they meant is now* undergoing a total liquidation of all it's stores.
12-30-2008 @ 12:22AM
BHarrison said...
Hmmmmm . . .. so all of the dirty laundry floats to the surface when bad times hit. This should be a "lesson" to everyone as to the type of improprieties that often occur without notice during "good times". This coupled with the Madoff Ponzi scheme just emphasize how much corruption goes without notice by the regulators and auditors during "normal business" during good times.
Shouldn't the land lords have been "more on top of all of this" long before now? Far too many "businessmen" will take advantage of "creative business accounting practices" (crimes) if given half a chance . . . thereby proving that a minimum amount of "oversight and regulations" are necessary to ensure the integrity of business.
12-30-2008 @ 8:33AM
bb&j said...
not only that but they are trying to cheat there employees out of severance. great job sleez & harry
12-30-2008 @ 2:36PM
Iridium said...
Steve and Barry's was nothing more than a scam to rip off a few million and then close down. Happens all the time.
Just like Sofa Express. They were all over the place, ran all kinds of ads. Then all of a sudden poof they were gone.
These stores sell crap manufactured overseas for bargain prices. The stuff lasts a month and then when people start to catch on the company vanishes.
I've always thought that these stores were money laundering operations for organized crime. I'm pretty sure I am right.
12-31-2008 @ 11:56PM
Larry said...
This might prove to be a good year after all
1-09-2009 @ 12:31PM
ship has sailed said...
Looks like to me the whole partnership
with bay harbour was a scam from the
start. I do not believe bay harbour ever
intended to have an ongoing company.
The timing of the second bankruptcy at
the same time that the first wave of stores closed Bay harbour files for bankruptcy to sell out the rest of the stores because they had not paid any bills
for the company. Also this has apparently
let them get out of paying promised
severance packages they promised in over
100 closed stores. This money should be
paid to the employees who worked for it
rather than stolen by those who worked to
ruin the company. Bay Harbour and Steve
and barrys.
1-09-2009 @ 10:41PM
stoke the fire said...
looks like the other post finally reached its limit eh?
1-12-2009 @ 12:28AM
Paroled said...
Yeah other post must have reached its limit. Too bad, still plenty of griping left to do about my former employers who promised me a severance package which I killed myself for and now they wont deliver.
Crooks... all of them up top.
1-12-2009 @ 4:03PM
stoke the fire said...
So... Are there any good stories yet from the closings??? Where is everyone? Have we started a new thread somewhere?
1-13-2009 @ 8:25AM
Paroled said...
I think alot of former managers have jumped off the blog bandwagon so they can try to forget about how they will never be able to stand up straight since all they did for months was bend over.
Personally I'm still hell bent on finding out 2 things... one being any remote chance at getting this bankruptcy judge to force our severance payout. And the other being which prison Steve and Barry will be sent to so I know where to send them some fan mail.
1-14-2009 @ 9:47AM
Insider said...
I used to work in the corporate HQ on Long Island. A few of us were able to put 2 and 2 together and realize that something wasn't right (although you could never know exactly, as they were very secretive about things), but you would be surprised how many people there were happy to work away in ignorance.
All of the top management made out very well in the whole situation, and I have no doubt that they were perfectly aware of what they were doing. Hopefully someone will eventually hold them accountable.
1-14-2009 @ 7:08PM
takenbysteve&barrys said...
Dear Insider,
Count me and my family among those taken to the cleaners by S&B. Cleaned us out I am embarassed to say. Left holding the bag, and the liens. Need some justice. Need the truth and the valuable info from the inside. Trying to hold them accountable but I am alone fighting Goliath. Will you help? Will anyone help? We can even discuss a cash reward for info that leads to me recovering what they tricked me out of. If you want someone to hold them accountable look no further. I am on it but I need help. Contact me directly @ takenbysteveandbarrys@yahoo.com.
1-27-2009 @ 7:43PM
takenbysteveandbarrys said...
Count me and my family among those taken to the cleaners by S&B. Cleaned us out I am embarrassed to say. Left holding the bag, and the liens. Need some justice. Need the truth and the valuble info from the inside. Trying to hold them accountable but I am alone fighting Goliath. Will you help? Will anyone help? We can even discuss a cash reward for info that leads to recovery what they stole from us. If you want someone to hold them accountable look no furhter. I am on it but need help. Contact me directly at takenbysteveandbarrys@yshoo.com
1-27-2009 @ 7:52PM
takenbysteve&barrys said...
Insider, why silent? Paroled, why silent? Others who know the truth, now is your moment. Now is the opportunity to hold those people who hurt so many others accountable. I am stepping up and carrying the burden, but I need your help. Don't let everyone down. Email me @ takenbysteveandbarrys@yahoo.com.
3-24-2009 @ 4:30PM
Paroled said...
takenbysteve&barrys...
I realize you must be one of countless vendors or contractors who the company royally screwed over. As much as I or any of the other griping members of the former company might like to help, the sad truth is there is nothing that can really be done. Nobody is posting here anymore because they have moved on with their lives. They're trying to forget about the company that laid out a very well planned scheme to screw over countless employees, vendors, utilities, etc... all so that they hide under the bankrupcy shield while they liquidated everything and kept all of the proceeds for themselves.
The whole thing makes us sick but we'd just sooner forget it. You have until March 30 I believe to file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court if they owe you money... but every lawyer I've talked to about it says you'll be winning the lottery if you manage to get ANYTHING out of them in the end and if you do, it will be pennies on the dollar of they owe you.
I know I've got my claim in, but I'm not holding my breath....
...bastards.