Sweet Pickins in North Fort Myers closes, vendors say they're owed money

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A popular resale market has closed its doors with little warning, leaving dozens of small business owners looking for answers. 

Vendors are coming in and out of Sweet Pickins to clear out their booths and pick up their checks. 

That's where the trouble comes in.

Vendors received a letter notifying them that Sweet Pickins lost its lease and they have little time to vacate. Among many vendors, Lisa Chilcote arrived to collect her last check.

She learned she did not receive July sales, her full security deposit, or a refund for the full month of July rent, which she says was already charged. The contract vendors received when they decided to trust their small business to Sweet Pickins says at the top, "You will love this place." Now, that's the opposite of how vendors feel.

"I need my money, right? I mean, I understand if they want to take part of the rent for July, since we were here till the 11th. That's fine, prorate it. Don't take the entire month, and give me my money from my sales for July, and let me be able to see what those sales were," Chilcote said.

Tensions boiled over as frustrated vendors demanded answers, even calling law enforcement. Deputies say it is a civil matter.

Many vendors say they've found new places to sell their products, but they want to be paid for the work they've already done. Paula Price, a vendor who sells arts and crafts, says the owner owes her $150 for her deposit and half a month's rent back.

"This is through no fault of ours, and possibly no fault of hers either. But you know, this is just poor management, as far as I'm concerned," Price said.

"It's the principle that's bothering me. Right. And it might be the end of the world for some of these other vendors who have been here for 5, 9, or 11 years. We've heard of some. I don't know what they're going to do," Chilcote said.

The owner, Ladonna, refused to speak with WINK News, with vendors, or with law enforcement. Members of her family have been manning the doors as vendors clear out their things.