Grant's doesn't open for going-out-of business sale

JOLIET — Grant’s Appliances didn’t open for a going-out-of-business sale Thursday, dismaying some customers looking to receive appliances they paid for months ago.

On Wednesday, signs on the windows of the Joliet location, 321 Republic Ave., said the stores would re-open at 11 a.m. Thursday.

But customers who came were turned away because the stores were not ready to open yet, said a man who was working inside the building. He said the store would open Friday or Saturday. He didn’t identify himself and walked away from the entrance after further knocks on the window.

A customer from Joliet who didn’t want to be identified said he heard “some legal thing reared its head” and that General Electric didn’t want their products being sold at the store.

Grant’s Appliances shut down in October with no explanation, mystifying and angering many customers who said they have lost money on appliances never delivered.

The Illinois Attorney General said the company is undergoing a process similar to bankruptcy and another company, High Ridge Partners, Inc., is distributing its assets to pay off creditors.

Joy Tinsman, of New Lenox, a customer who paid more than $20,000 for appliances she never received, was at the Joliet store Thursday. She was disappointed the store did not open and told a man inside they were selling stuff other people already bought.

She wanted to speak with someone from the company running the sale inside but was told the stores would open either Friday or Saturday.

“You can’t get at least on person to man up and talk with someone?” she asked him.

Joe Nurczyk and Vicki Kaminskas, both of Joliet, were at the store as well. Nurzcyk purchased nearly $3,000 worth of kitchen appliances from Grant’s before the store closed. They were only able to get a microwave and had to repurchase other appliances at another store.

“They’re selling stuff already sold,” Kaminskas said.

Ten cars were seen parked at the store about 20 minutes before 11 a.m., including two white vans. Customers pulled in the parking lot only to find out from other customers the stores were not opening Thursday.

Last week, there was activity at the store and a man who identified himself as an agent with FirstMerit Bank said they were “hiking inventory,” at the store. He would not provide more information. Moving trucks were seen at the store twice last week.