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Alfred Angelo Bridal Abruptly Closes Its Doors

By Christopher Clemence
Published on: 15:00 PST, Jul 14, 2017

Brides-to-be across the United States awoke this morning to the news that prominent wedding-gown maker Alfred Angelo Bridal closed its doors for good. The dressmaker’s attorneys filed for Chapter 7 liquidation this morning, citing a failure to locate a willing buyer for the business.

The Delray Beach, Florida, company operated 60 storefronts in the United States, as well as several others in Canada, Europe, and Japan, as well as supplying 1,400 third-party retailers with wedding gowns. According to the Wall Street Journal, many of the managers of these stores were not made aware of the closure beforehand, despite the fact that the company’s board of directors made the decision to make the filing on Monday.

Though the stores’ doors are now locked, the law firm representing Alfred Angelo has pledged to work with the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee to release dresses currently being held by the store. Patricia Redmond, shareholder at Miami’s Stearns Weaver Miller, Weissler Alhadoff & Sitterson, and the attorney representing Alfred Angelo in bankruptcy court, told local media that she has received over 3,500 emails from brides desperate for news on their wedding gowns.

Redmond also said that she will also work with the trustee to release a shipment of wedding gowns that is on the way from China as well.

While thousands of terror-stricken brides deluged Alfred Angelo’s legal counsel with inquiries, scores also turned to social media to air their frustrations:

Not all is lost, however, as one of Alfred Angelo’s competitors is offering to help those brides left holding the bag. David’s Bridal is offering a 30 percent discount on replacement gowns for customers with an Alfred Angelo’s receipt, and 20 percent off on bridesmaid dresses as well. The retailer has also offered to waive rush charges for brides whose nuptials are approaching.

In addition, several recent brides offered up their dresses for use by those left in the lurch by Alfred Angelo’s abrupt closing.

The Chapter 7 filing marks the end of a business begun 80 years ago by Alfred Angelo Piccione and his wife, Edythe Vincent Piccione. The company’s latest head was CEO Richard Anders, who took the helm last year. Anders previously served as an officer at Nautica, J. Crew, and Old Navy.

[Featured Image by JP Yim/Getty Images]

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