By VICTORIA LIM
A ruined birthday, an overdue grandmother’s gift, intolerable waits – all the result of the unexpected closing of The Kids Room, a Tampa furniture store.

Customers complained the children’s furniture retailer, at 302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, took their money – ranging from $1,451 to $2,747 – and never delivered.


The doors are locked. On the day we visited, UPS delivery tags dating to the last week of May were stuck to the door.

“This has been a tough year for us, so this is a big blow,” said customer Christine Pedersen of Tampa, who scraped together $2,110.58 for her daughter’s bedroom set. She placed and paid for her order on April 9. She became suspicious after waiting beyond the advised four to six weeks for delivery and visited the store after no one answered the phone.

Patricia King of Tampa paid $2,254.28 for a 12-piece set for her grandchildren that was to be delivered and installed May 27. On June 1, she was “shocked” to read the “Gone Out of Business” sign on the door.

“To say that I am disappointed, sad and angry all at once would be an understatement,” King said.
Complaints Filed With County

Florida Division of Corporations records show Raymond Koenig Jr., Linda Dexter Koenig, Christopher J. Koening and Kimberly B. Koenig – all with Wesley Chapel addresses – as directors of the company.

“They seemed friendly, honest and eager to please,” Pedersen said.

Seven consumers have filed complaints with Hillsborough County, investigator Cindy Anderson said. Anderson is trying to work with the store directors’ attorney, Buddy Ford of Tampa, to determine the status of customer orders.

“If the company has already ordered furniture, and it’s just on its way and it’s just in transit somewhere, we’re going to work with the company and the consumer to try to arrange for delivery,” said Kevin Jackson, chief investigator for the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency.

Jackson said he has seen this type of predicament before, particularly with furniture companies. That’s why he recommends that if consumers can’t use a credit card that they seek a payment alternative.

“It’s not necessarily unusual. Ideally, you pay for half and then half upon delivery. It just depends on the retailer. This is an industry that has had this repetitive problem in the middle of delivery. We’ve had several instances just like this,” Jackson said.
Owners Start New Business

As consumers hope for refunds or the furniture they paid for, state Division of Corporation records show that Raymond Koenig Jr. and Christopher J. Koening intend to open another children’s furniture store in Wesley Chapel, Lazy Boy Kids Furniture Inc., 5229 Strike the Gold Lane. The address is a residence. No one answered the door when I visited recently.

For consumers who paid The Kids Room by credit card, dispute the charges in writing by sending a letter via certified mail to your credit card company. Paying by plastic for big purchases upfront for products and services you receive later offers a layer of protection.

You should also file a complaint with the county’s Consumer Protection Agency by calling (813) 903-3430 or going to www.hillsboroughcounty .org/consumerprotection.

If you have a consumer question, call the help line at 1-800-338-0808 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays.