Atlanta Consignment Store Closes After Alleged Robbery, But Sellers Are Suspicious

Culture Atlanta, a consignment store at the Cumberland Mall, closed after an alleged robbery, but sellers aren't buying it.

A sneaker consignment store in Atlanta announced it was closing its doors due to multiple robberies there. However, sellers who consigned merchandise to the retailer believe the store’s owners are stealing the inventory, according to WSB-TV.

Culture Atlanta, located at Cumberland Mall, is known for selling high-end sneakers and designer items. The store announced its closure on Instagram, citing multiple robberies as the reason behind the decision. Some of its consigners expressed frustration over a lack of communication from Culture Atlanta, according to a report by Channel 2’s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell, and have been given no information about what is going on with the items they consigned to the store.

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“I’ve been working so hard for this,” said John Gabriela, adding that he and his brother lost a lot of money as a result. “I’m out about $35,000 altogether. With my brother alone, it’s another $15,000.”

Another consigner says he has lost approximately $10,000 and hasn’t heard anything from the store owners about his items.

“I’m getting married next month; I lost about $10,500,” said consigner Stephen Kane. “They won’t reply to any of us.”

Consigners reported that sales were sporadic, and when they attempted to gain access to their inventory at the store, they could not be accommodated.

“Even when we would make appointments, they would cancel my appointments or say they can’t find my stuff,” said William Ortega. “I first started seeing red flags like anywhere from November to December, when they started giving me issues giving me my stuff.”

Emphasizing a lack of communication, the consigners said they learned that Culture Atlanta was closing through an Instagram post.

Meanwhile, Culture Atlanta claims that $50,000 in cash was stolen along with its inventory.

However, an open records report from the Cobb County Police Department revealed that only one burglary has been reported. And the company representing Cumberland Mall stated that the multiple robberies alleged by the store via its Instagram account were false.