NY1 For You: Bride Seeks Justice For Lost Catering
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
After more than two weeks ago after NY1 uncovered the story of a bride who lost her wedding's reception venue and $4,000 when a catering hall abruptly closed up shop, now the caterer says he wants to repay his jilted clients. NY1's Susan Jhun filed the following report.Marlene Tavarez says less than two weeks before she was set to walk down the aisle, she found out that the reception hall where her wedding was suppose to take place had suddenly closed.
"I met the man of my dreams and I had literally the wedding of a nightmare," says Tavarez. "Eleven days before, April 27, I had no reception."
Tavarez found that that out when she saw an eviction notice from the city marshal for Dennis Rigatti, seen above, the owner of Rigatti Terrace in Ozone Park, Queens.
"He never did say any word to me, my husband, or any other clients," said Tavarez. "I mean, I even walked in there a couple times putting deposits down and he had other clients he was taking money from."
Eight clients contacted NY1 after Tavarez's story first aired, saying they had given Rigatti deposits and then had to find different venues for their events without receiving refunds.
NY1 tracked Rigatti to other catering venue called Krystal Hall. After several attempts to reach Rigatti by phone and in person failed, Rigatti finally contacted NY1 and said he never meant to defraud anyone.
"I'm as stunned as every customer who I had to disappoint," says Rigatti. "I am totally committed to pay every family, as I always have."
It's a promise Taverez and others hope Rigatti will make good on. NY1 will continue to follow this story.