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Gymborees Abruptly Close After Court OKs Liquidation

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

esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

Published: October 25, 2008

Updated: 10/25/2008 01:11 am

TAMPA - Some Gymboree Play & Music centers in the Tampa area closed Friday. The move came a day after a bankruptcy court approved liquidating the business.

"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 Friday and saw a sign on the door confirming the closure. Tot-Bot Inc., owner of several Tampa Bay area Gymborees, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in March, court records show. 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 company assets.

Neither the franchise owner nor a Gymboree representative could be reached for comment Friday. Attorneys for the franchise owner also could not be reached.

"I didn't see this one coming," said Connie Vargas-Manley, a music teacher at the North Tampa location on Dale Mabry Highway. 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."

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.

Tot-Bot booked revenue 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 lists $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."

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

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