Former retailer settles with Tennessee over failing to deliver furniture

Deal may not require restitution to consumers

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 25, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Owners of two defunct furniture stores here, Drew's Furniture Depot and Wow Furniture, have reached a settlement with the state over failing to deliver promised merchandise, the Tennessean newspaper reported.

But customers of the former stores are upset that the deal may not require the owners to pay any restitution that would result in refunds, the paper said.

State officials said there was little they could do because the former owners had few assets. "We know this is disappointing for the consumers who received neither what was promised nor refunds," Attorney General Bob Cooper said in a statement issued Friday.

The Tennessean said it could not reach the owners, Timothy Bryan Drew, his wife, Anita Renee Drew, and their daughter, Amanda Lee Drew.

Drew's Furniture Depot closed in March 2008. Timothy Drew opened Wow Furniture two months later and closed it in September 2009.

There were 89 consumer complaints against the Drews. The case was referred to Cooper and his office sued them last year. Under the settlement, they were assessed a $96,000 civil penalty and $35,000 in legal fees. If their financial condition improves, the state may also seek to have them pay restitution, the newspaper said.