NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Wedding dresses, furniture, fixtures and all assets of House of Maya bridal shop’s $2.3 million in inventory were auctioned off Thursday.
The winning bidder, Anthony Cataldo with Cataldo Builders, paid $150,000 and said he will open a new bridal shop in Norfolk.
“We’re working on a venue for weddings on the Eastern Shore and we have a caterer, we have a florist, we have all the components except the bridal portion so that’s why we did this,” said Cataldo.
Diana Del Corso, who works at Cataldo Builders, will manage the new bridal store.
“My mom was in the industry growing up so I feel like it's in my blood and I’m very excited to have the trust to start it myself,” said Del Corso.
Del Corso told 13News Now that she bought her own wedding dress from House of Maya when she got married.
“I loved my experience so much and I loved what I did that it only gave me the stepping stone I need to move on to a different part of my life,” said Del Corso.
Earlier this year, the business consolidated four stores into one, that was located on Granby Street in Downtown Norfolk.
In late August, the storefront suddenly closed. Court documents show that House of Maya owner, Maya Holihan, was more than $87,000 in debt to Old Point National Bank. The bank took over the business.
Laura Wright with Old Point National Bank tells 13News Now that hundreds of customers who had business with the shop had their orders satisfied.
The funds raised by the auction will go toward paying back a loan taken out by the owner, according to Wright.