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Gymborees Abruptly Close; Other Play Centers Step In

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Mothers and children arrived at Gymboree Play & Music, 14317 N. Dale Mabry Highway, today and found the doors locked.

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

Updated: 10/24/2008 02:49 pm

TAMPA - Local Gymboree Play & Music centers abruptly closed their doors today, a day after the bankruptcy of the local franchise owner was changed to a liquidation.

"There was absolutely no warning about it," said Krista Carbone, whose daughter, Morgan, attended Gymboree classes in Lutz. "People will be very shocked when they find out."

Carbone said she saw a posting Thursday on Craigslist saying the centers were closing but thought it was a joke until she drove by her local center this morning and saw a sign on the door confirming the post.

Tot-Bot Inc., owner of several Tampa Bay area Gymborees, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in March, according to court records. After the petitioner failed to pay leases on its business properties, the bankruptcy was transformed Thursday to Chapter 7 liquidation. The court appointed a new trustee to oversee the sale of the company's assets.

A Craigslist posting says the only local Gymboree still open is in Lakeland. It ads, "Tampa, Pinellas Co., Pasco Co., Bradenton & Sarasota are gone."

"I didn't see this one coming," said Connie Vargas-Manley, a music teacher at the North Tampa location on Dale Mabry Highway. She said she was told she probably will not receive her last paycheck. She wanted parents to know the employees had no warning. "We had no idea that we were going to be shut down," she said. "Otherwise, we would never have sold them anything. I feel terrible. We would have told them and given them warning."

The Gymboree closings quickly drew the attention of other children's activity centers.

Hearing that parents had paid for their children to attend a Halloween party at Gymboree, the owner of Kidz Club, 15315 Amberly Drive in Tampa Palms, will host a free party from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, said Michelle White, spokeswoman for owner Lara Slatniske. The party will be open to the children of parents who purchased Gymboree tickets and contact Kidz Club through its Web site, www.kidz-clubonline.com, or by e-mail at kidzclub@tampabayrr.com, White said.

Another business, Rolly Pollies, 11238 W. Hillsborough Ave., is offering a free 90-minute open gym and art class at 4 p.m. Nov. 1. The company asks people to RSVP at rptampafl@verizon.net. For information, go to www.rptampafl.com.

According to state court records, Tot-Bot signed a three-year lease Feb. 9, 2005, for 3,227 square feet at 3476 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, inside Lithia Crossings shopping place, two doors north of Steinmart.

According to a lawsuit filed by Lithia Crossings, Tot-Bot stopped paying on its lease when it filed its bankruptcy on March 14. The shopping center alleges it is owed $60,758.22 as of July 25.

Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May granted the landlord's request to remove the lease from court protection on July 23 so it could recover possession of the premises as long as it doesn't seek or recover a monetary judgment against the debtor – or other court protections in effect.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Charlene E. Honeywell ordered Tot-Bot to deposit any undisputed rents with the court.

Tot-Bot is seeking to have the case dismissed. A hearing is scheduled Nov. 20 on that motion and a motion by Lithia Crossings on the issue of the amount of rent.

Tot-Bot had total revenues of $101,515 in August and expenses of $98,503, with a profit of $3,012, according to a financial statement filed in the bankruptcy case. It listed $899,958 in liabilities and $223,771 in equity.

Carbone said she has a membership paid through the summer but is more upset that her daughter won't be able to attend the classes.

"I'm mad about the money part, but I'm also just disappointed we're losing out on this opportunity," she said. "It was a nice place to take your children."

Attorneys, the trustee, the franchise owner and Gymboree corporate spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.

Reporter Tom Brennan contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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