Family of FWS co-owner speaks out

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Customers were shocked and looking for answers when a popular furniture store abruptly shut down Wednesday. Customers reached out to News 4, when they hadn’t received their furniture or a refund from FWS Furniture, and now they have closed their doors. Now, they are wondering if they will get their money back.

  MORE | Want to make your own complaint with the BBB? You can do so online right here

John Grimaldi says his son, also named John, and a man named John Wanat are co-owners of FWS. He says they have a failed business partnership and that his son has lost all of his savings, and is very depressed about what happened.

The Better Business Bureau says they have no received 79 complaints over the past year, up 24 cases since last Friday.

People are reporting never receiving furniture, a refund. Peggy Penders of the BBB said, “We have reports of refunds that have been received through checks, and unfortunately some of those have bounced."

A customer named Nick said, “Every time I would call and say I wanted to speak to my salesman, I would never get a call back.”

“Nobody's called us back from FWS, from July 29 to today,” said a customer.

Customer Lynn said, “I have no idea when I'm going to get the money back. Customer service has been atrocious. And it's just very, very aggravating; and a terrible way to do business."