Ann Kelso Salon Fires Back Over Store Lockdown

Published Oct. 29, 2009 at 11:00 p.m.

Ann Kelso Salon and CitySpa posted a scathing press release on its front page today over the store being locked by property owners earlier this week.

The sign posted on the shop window on Monday read, "Tenant’s lease has been terminated due to tenant’s failure to pay rent. As a result, tenant’s possession of the premises is terminated." The building is owned by 78704 Partners, which consists of Rob Lippincott (owner of Guero's Taco Bar), Abe Zimmerman and Stan Biderman.

Ann Kelso Salon explained that the closure happened unexpectedly while both parties were in the midst of negotiations over a lawsuit that the salon filed against 78704 Partners last year, claiming Breach of Contract, Deceptive Trade Practices Act Violations, and Negligent Misrepresentation, among other grievances.

Lippincott, according to the salon:

...stormed into the salon in the middle of business hours, yelling, "Get out!" at salon employees, and shouting, "You are trespassing! This business is closed!" Employees were then told to gather their personal belongings and vacate the salon immediately, at which point the doors were locked for good.

"It was terrible," said salon manager Sasha Creamer. "We were all totally shocked and frankly a little scared of Rob. He was shouting and waving his arms. We just got what little personal belongings we could out of the salon and watched him lock the doors behind us."

For now, shop owner Barbara Kelso recommends that clients try to contact their stylists via Facebook, as the salon's client data is stored on computers inside the building.

"Stay tuned," siad Kelso. "You can't just turn off a business that's been around as long as ours. Ann Kelso Salon may evolve, but this story is by no means over."

Coincidentally, the threesome behind 78704 Partners were voted "Best Guardians for Keeping SoCo Locally Owned" in the 2007 Best of Austin Critics Picks.

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