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GARDENS - Dallas + BILL BAUER = RIP-OFF COMPANY! How does a store, based in Austin, that's been in business over 30 years manage to open a store here (dubbed 'Best In Dallas 2009') and in two short years end up being ruined by a new owner and sneaking out of town with scores of vendors left unpaid? In a word: Bauer...Bill Bauer. What a sad, sad, ending to a cool store, great staff and terrific word-of-mouth. Bauer must have really screwed the pooch to fail with a sure Dallas retail bet like this. After talking to a few vendors, I can understand what went wrong, though...who wants to work with a notoriously difficult micromanager who alienates the resources the staff worked so hard to cultivate? Let's hope Bauer doesn't leave his landscaping clients high and dry the same way!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Hey 'eyore': Gosh, someone who worked closely with swindler Bill Bauer for 'many years' is defending him? What a surprise! If you worked with this long-time con artist and liar, you know how many vendors and artists he tried to - and in many cases, did - cheat out of the money they had coming for inventory they DELIVERED. Instead of making your 'retail hero' try to look good, why don't you spend your time warning Bill's future victims (if he ever has another retail scam operation) how they should avoid dealing with this scammer at all costs? Just a thought...
I was closely associated with the situation and had worked for Bill Bauer many years prior to the unfortunate closing of his business. Until any of you who cowardly use this type of forum to smear someone's name have built up a business, nurtured employees and created a fabulous environment in which to work - only to see it slip away due to economic forces that couldn't have been forseen, I suggest you hold your tongues. I watched the toll the past two years took on Bill and the entire staff and it was very painful. We all, including Bill did the best we possibly could for our vendors and employees and I can assure you that no one close to this situation holds any ill feelings toward Bill, which is pretty amazing given the latitude the economic crisis gave him to got out like a chump if he chose to. He didn't - he was a gentleman until the bitter end and continued to provide health insurance for his employees long after the business closed. Whomever wrote the initial posting obviously has an axe to grind - again, anyone who knows the people involved would laugh at the characterizations therein.
I am also among those who have been ripped off by this guy. The person who made the previous comment needs to stop blaming the "government" and the "press" for peoples lack of integrity. I just don't understand why people feel they have to live/operate beyond their means. Make sure that you're not feeling "sad" for me as ill be just fine thank you. So whiny and apologetic-that comment must have been written by his mom.
It is unfortunate that Gardens closed but I'm sure as like many other stores, if they couldn't keep their store open, they probably couldn't afford to pay their vendors. I'm a vendor and I empathize but you also have to take into consideration that we are in a DEPRESSION. The government and press don't want to admit it because of the havoc it would wreak but with official unemployment topping over 10% the situation is pretty bad for a lot of retailers. I personally knew Bill Bauer and thought of him as a very nice and professional individual.
I'm sad for all of us (vendors and entrepreneurs alike) that things like this are happening.