Pirch, a high-end source for luxury household hardware and appliances, has fallen into disarray and customers are publicly venting their frustrations.
The company, with showrooms in La Jolla and Solana Beach, faces multiple lawsuits by vendors, landlords and customers as a result, and jobs also are on the line, according to filings with the state.
In a pop-up on the Pirch website, the company states, “As of Wednesday March 20th, PIRCH is temporarily closing all our showrooms through this weekend. This is a pause of business to give management the opportunity to complete a go-forward plan.”
The message continued, “We are navigating through various options. We take this situation very seriously and are working diligently to resolve it. We appreciate your patience while we work to find a path forward. We intend to share the go-forward plans sometime next week.”
The company added a series of e-mails for customers to ask questions, cancel orders or seek refunds.
Yet one customer told Fox5 News, “They shut down. We can’t get in touch with anyone.”
The Business of Home reported that manufacturer Sub-Zero Group sued Pirch, accusing the firm of missing payments for inventory earlier this year. The appliance company wants its stock returned and is seeking more than $4.2 million, according to the site, which notes other suits over unpaid rent at Pirch’s San Diego County locations and paid-for stock that customers have not received.
FOX 5 also reported that a current Pirch employee told them that management called on the staff to take paid time off and added that in-house speculation was focused on the company filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy. That form of bankruptcy is linked to liquidation, not re-organization to remain in business.
In addition, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that layoff notices have been filed.
Pirch also has showrooms in Rancho Mirage, Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
