New Jersey

Toppers Spa abruptly shuts down in Del., NJ, leaving many holding gift cards

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2023

Toppers Spa abruptly shuts down in Del., NJ, leaving many holding gift cards

MARLTON, New Jersey (WPVI) — A popular spa and salon chain has abruptly closed its doors, leaving customers with hundreds, even thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.

The Toppers Spa in Marlton, New Jersey, and in Dover, Delaware closed on April 28, just three days after sending customers email promotions to buy gift cards.

Now, customers are irate.

“We were like loyal customers,” said Lindsey Wells from Cherry Hill. “My mom treated herself to $500 worth of gift cards.”

“I also had bought a gift card,” she added.

She says she bought the gift cards on April 22.

Toppers also sent her an email on April 25 to buy more, then closed three days later.

“We could not spend any of the gift cards, the website was gone,” Wells said.

Wells told Action News that she, her aunt, and her sister had appointments scheduled for the day after the spa closed. On the day it shut down, her sister did get a call that those appointments could be honored, but with a catch.

“You can only pay cash. And she said, ‘Well, we have gift cards.’ And they said, ‘Yeah, we can’t do anything about the gift cards,’” she recalled.

On Facebook, other Toppers customers have posted they have gift cards worth $600, $800, and even $2,000.

“It makes me feel like you can’t trust any company,” Wells said. “Someone knew that they were closing six days before they closed. Someone knew. The owners knew, someone, and yet they accepted our money.”

Wells has now filed a dispute with her credit card company.

“Hopefully, I get that money back. But I’m not sure,” she said. “We paid for something we never got the service for, to me, it’s stealing.”

In its heyday, Topper’s had five locations. But the company’s owner, Richard Keaveney, who founded the chain in 1981, said by phone on Wednesday the industry changed.

Consumers no longer wanted the day spa experience, he said.

There was also a shortage of nail technicians, and he says both massage therapists and hairdressers preferred to work independently instead of as employees.

He says on top of those challenges, “COVID put the knife in our back,” forcing the Newtown, Bucks County, location to close in 2020.

Then the Rittenhouse location closed in 2021, Devon closed in 2022, and then just weeks ago the spas in Dover and Marlton closed their doors, informing its employees the night before it shut down.

Topper’s owner said the situation was exacerbated by the CEO and president suffering a medical condition and being hospitalized. He said he is still recovering, but that they will meet with the company’s attorney and accountant this Friday to figure out the next steps.

That includes a possible bankruptcy filing and issues with gift cards, officials say.

Toppers Spa Full Statement:

“It is with deep regret that we announce the closing of Toppers Spa Salons, effective immediately.

This is a very challenging time for me, our employees, and all of our guests. This is especially difficult for me as I began this Philadelphia institution in 1981. 40+ years ago. We are heartbroken and did everything at all possible to avoid this closure. Absolutely down to the wire. We have closed 3 locations since the rise of COVID-19. Each closing another knife in the heart. We exhausted every option at our disposal to navigate the extremely difficult struggle including, but not limited to, external financing, additional bank loans, and employee cash loans. It wasn’t until Thursday, April 27th that I realized there was nothing more to be done. The economic challenges of the past couple of years have become overwhelming and impossible to face as a small business. The abrupt notice is simply due to our resolve to not give in. We wanted nothing more to make it work.

I understand that there are many unhappy people. Employees (including all corporate staff who were also laid off) and guests. I am doing everything in my power to see that everyone is addressed to the best of my ability.

The company has retained a most competent accounting and legal team to help facilitate the closure and address gift card balances. We anticipate that this team will reach out in the near future.

Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding.”

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New Jersey

Man recieves 41-year sentence for sexually assaulting young girl in New Jersey

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

Man recieves 41-year sentence for sexually assaulting young girl in New Jersey

A man from Maryland has been sentenced to 41 years behind bars in New Jersey for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in Burlington County, prosecutors announced.

Kevin Williams, 34, of Clinton, Maryland, was found guilty in July of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and four counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Officials said Williams must serve 38 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

The assaults occurred several years ago on multiple occasions, officials shared. Williams was taken into custody in December 2020 by the Maryland State Police.

Officials said additional details are being withheld in an attempt to protect the identity of the victim.

“The victim in this case endured abuse that continues to traumatize her to this day,” Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said in a news release. “We admire the strength and determination she displayed during the prosecution, and hope the justice that was brought on her behalf is meaningful as she pursues a happy, fulfilling life.”

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New Jersey

Latest Snow Predictions For Friday Night Storm In NJ

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

Latest Snow Predictions For Friday Night Storm In NJ

NEW JERSEY — Snowfall ranging from a light dusting to up to 2 inches is anticipated for New Jersey Friday night into Saturday, though some uncertainty about how the storm could unfold means that amounts may be higher in areas, according to the latest forecast.

Northwest Jersey is expected to see 1 to 2 inches, with “a slushy coating to up to an inch” of snow predicted for the rest of the Garden State, according to the National Weather Service. Light precipitation will come in during the morning into the afternoon, transitioning to mainly snow overnight.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for the northeast corner of the state through Friday night, as travel conditions could become slippery.

Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“The danger is the snow can quickly erupt and come down at a steady clip in some areas during the afternoon and evening rush hour on Friday in the Northeast,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. This includes the metro areas of New York City and Philadelphia, he said.

Forecasters said there is some uncertainty with this storm depending on how it plays out. The National Weather Service called it “a difficult forecast,” and noted that snowfall amounts could be higher than forecast.

Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“Conditions around New York City are tricky,” Rayno said. “They can get a coating to an inch or two of snow from the clipper storm, perhaps a bit more if the coastal storm tracks farther west, or they could be in a rip-off zone where nothing to a few flurries occur.”

Saturday marks the first day of winter, and snow will end by late morning, forecasters say. Cold temperatures will linger through the weekend.

Here’s the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain and snow before noon, then snow likely between noon and 1 p.m., then rain and snow likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 11 p.m. Low around 29. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 24. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 7.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 28.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Tuesday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Friday: Rain. High near 39. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 2 a.m. Low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 1 p,m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 8.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 31.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.

South Jersey

Friday: Rain. High near 42. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 10 p.m., then rain and snow likely between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of snow after 4 a.m. Low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 36. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 27. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 7.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 34.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

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New Jersey

New Jersey Eagles fan makes last wish to attend a Birds game

Published

23 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Eagles fan makes last wish to attend a Birds game – CBS Philadelphia

Watch CBS News

A Philadelphia Eagles fan with terminal cancer has one final wish — to attend a game. His daughter and a community of fans are working to make it happen.