GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — We're continuing our coverage of a 13 ON YOUR SIDE investigation into a custom suits shop in downtown Grand Rapids.
We first reported about Mel Styles Custom Suits on Division Avenue in January 2022.
Unhappy customers reached out to us after they didn't get what they paid for before their wedding day.
Since then, the shop has closed, however more customers are sharing their concerns.
Tenisha Abron and Jason Cummings' wedding is this Saturday and they still haven't gotten everything they ordered, nor a refund.
They didn't see our original story, so they had no clue other customers had concerns.
Abron reached out to owner Archie Sudue on Mel Styles Custom Suits Facebook page in November 2021.
In February 2022, she put in an order for her wedding, which was a total of $930.
"We ordered a tuxedo for my fiancé and two tuxedos for my one-year-old and eight-year-old," said Abron. "Shirts, bowties and a pair of shoes."
"He came off as very genuine and it was all smiles and happiness. He had made us truly believe that we were in good hands," said Cummings.
In July, Abron noticed the shop on Division Avenue had paper covering the windows.
"The day we were supposed to meet him here on the 24th, I got this new different address you guys can meet me at."
That address, Abron says, belonged to Sudue's mother. Their final fitting was in his mother's basement.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Sudue closed shop in July, and the exact reasons why are unknown.
On Aug. 12, nearly a week before their wedding, the couple says Sudue became elusive. This was the day they were supposed to meet to pick everything up.
"I texted him, 'hey, did you make it to Grand Rapids yet?' 'Yeah, Tenisha. I can meet you later on today.' I said, 'do you roughly have a time?' No response. I called, no response."
The couple ultimately got their suits, but not their shirts, bowties, nor the groom's shoes.
Their wedding is this Saturday and they also haven't gotten a refund.
13 ON YOUR SIDE ran a story in January 2022 where we talked with two grooms who had a similar story. One of them, Antwan Billings, said he still has not received his refund.
"There are some things I'm still learning as a small business owner and there are things I don't have control over as a business owner, but also when it comes to communication, I'm learning to communicate disappointment with my customers," said Sudue.
At the time, Sudue apologized to his customers and told us he's dealt with a continual shortage, a vendor problem and missing or delayed products from UPS and Fedex.
Recent court records show a loan institution sued Sudue in March 2021 for $7,800 for an unpaid line of credit, interest and attorney fees which he has yet to pay back.
In May 2022, the institution filed a motion to allow a court officer to arrest Sudue, however the judge denied it, saying the court already issued a bench warrant after Sudue failed to appear at a court hearing and allegedly refused to obey a court-ordered subpoena.
"Our day is going to be our day, despite this setback," said Cummings.
The couple just wants others to be aware so they're not taken advantage of as they feel they were.
"He needs to be shut down," said Abron.
"He needs to be held accountable for his actions because he hurt us and multiple others. He definitely needs to be shut down," said Cummings.
Abron and Cummings are considering taking their complaint to small claims court.
In addition, the Better Business Bureau received one complaint from May 2022 about Mel Styles.
The Michigan Attorney General's Office hasn't confirmed whether there is an investigation, however, they're encouraging people to file complaints with their department, as well as local law enforcement.
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