By Jim Jordan
HERALD-LEADER BUSINESS WRITER

Norwalk Furniture Corp. will complete 82 orders that were pending when the Lexington franchise of Norwalk, The Furniture Idea, closed suddenly in April, Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced yesterday.

The store in Hamburg Place was operated by Danny Hillard, a veteran Lexington retailer whom the Herald-Leader has been unable to contact.

The attorney general received about two dozen complaints from consumers who said they had made deposits but had not received their furniture. Some told the Herald-Leader they had made down payments of $1,400 or more, and one business paid in advance for $17,000 in furniture. No total for all customers was available.

Stumbo said Norwalk Furniture now has copies of purchase orders from the store and will notify customers in writing within seven business days about the status of their orders.

Mike Kenny, a Norwalk vice president, said the first letters were mailed yesterday and the rest will go out Tuesday and Wednesday. A copy of the customer’s invoice will be included.

“It will be quite an expense for Norwalk Furniture (to complete the orders),” Kenny said. “The main thing is that we are now actively able to service the consumer and they don’t have to wait any longer to know what is going to happen.”

Kenny also said there have been several inquiries about buying the Lexington franchise, so the company expects to have another Norwalk store open here within a few months.

In his statement, Stumbo said customers will be asked to pay the balance owed on their order before the furniture is produced. Norwalk estimated that delivery will occur 35 to 45 days after payment, depending on fabric availability.

The company will offer home delivery for 3 percent of the invoice or $75, whichever is greater, but Norwalk cannot charge for shipping or storage. Norwalk also must offer customers the option of picking up their furniture in Lexington at a location to be determined.

Consumers who do not receive a letter by June 9 should call the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-502-696-5389, Stumbo said.