Owners of closed spa meet with investigators over refunds matter

~ Ashli Rowland has promised to make full refunds of the outstanding gift card and gift certificate amounts

Consumer affairs investigators from the Missouri Attorney General's office met recently with the owners of Spa 151 on the River, the salon that went out of business with an estimated $50,000 in outstanding gift cards and certificates.

The number of complaints continued to rise last week, said John Fougere, spokesman for Attorney General Jay Nixon. By Friday, he said, 59 consumers had registered their grievances with the office's consumer affairs division.

On Thursday, Fougere said, investigators met with Ashli Rowland and Scott Rowland and their attorneys to discuss the complaints. While no civil or criminal action has been filed, Fougere referred to the Rowlands as "defendants."

"We continue to work with them to insure that these customers who have outstanding gift cards get the money that is owed to them," Fougere said. "As a part of our investigation, we will meet with defendants to gather information from them. They have been cooperating with us."

Spa 151, at 151 S. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau, closed in late January as part of an ongoing divorce dispute between the Rowlands. Ashli Rowland had operated Spa 151, but on Jan. 29 Scott Rowland arrived, changed the locks and sent the employees home, former staff members have said. When they returned two days later, they said, he told them the spa would not honor gift cards or certificates nor would he accept credit cards because the money would be directed to an account controlled by Ashli Rowland.

Owners aren't talking

Scott Rowland has not returned repeated messages left on his voice mail. When reached by telephone, Scott Rowland has hung up as soon as Southeast Missourian reporters identify themselves.

Ashli Rowland could not be reached Friday. She has, however, promised to make full refunds of the outstanding gift card and gift certificate amounts, which she estimated at $50,000. When she made the promise, Rowland said she would set up a bank account to hold funds to make the restitution and accept the gift certificates and cards at a post office box, then mail the checks.

The refunds were contingent, she said, on selling her share of a building that houses Check Please at 78 Plaza Way. The Rowlands, along with Brent and Lori Wills of Jackson, were partners in the Check Please business across eastern and northern Missouri until they sold the business in October.

Ashli Rowland promised to provide details of her plans last week but did not call the Southeast Missourian and, when her number was reached by telephone, it did not allow a caller to leave a message.

Fougere said the consumer affairs investigators said they met with the Rowlands and their attorneys. He was not sure whether the investigators met with the Rowlands together or separately. "We continue to move forward with our investigation to get to the bottom of this."

The consumer affairs division has also received four complaints about the sale of gift cards at Joey's Seafood, a restaurant in Cape Girardeau that closed Dec. 31. No contact has been made with the owners, Stephen and Catherine Mills, Fougere said.

The Millses have not returned messages left at their home nor have repeated messages left with the corporate headquarters of Joey's Seafood in Minnesota been returned. But one local consumer notified the Southeast Missourian that they had received a $27.45 refund from the Millses for the outstanding balance on their gift cards.

The Millses at first did not respond to a letter asking for help obtaining refunds, said Joyce Westrich of Cape Girardeau. After Westrich filed a complaint with the attorney general's office and was interviewed by an investigator for the attorney general's office, "lo and behold I got a check from Stephen Mills," Westrich said. The check was for the amount of the unused balance on the gift cards.

"I am satisfied," Westrich said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126