State investigates recently closed kitchen remodeling company

BY ANNA JOHNSON, TIMES-NEWS

A Burlington kitchen remodeling company has reportedly left dozens across the Triangle and Triad high and dry.

American Kitchen Corp. closed last week, prompting an investigation by the N.C. Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau, and many customers are reporting unfinished kitchens despite paying the Burlington business upfront.

Paul and Frances Tausch first heard about American Kitchen when they received an advertisement in the mail in March.

We checked them out, Paul said. The BBB had given them a good rating, (and) I didnt see any complaints at the time. We decided we would have them give us an estimate.

The Wake Forest couple met with company representatives and an engineer, and ultimately paid them a little more than $12,000 to get the business started on a remodeled kitchen, he said.

Every time the couple wanted to check on a price or look at the competition, American Kitchen was able to offer a sale or additional discount, they said.

We were always the ones contacting them, Frances said. We never heard from them. We were always the ones initiating the conversation.

They were told work would begin tentatively at the end of May, and the couple began removing some of the cabinets, hoping to use them in the garage, and packing up the kitchen. When work didnt begin, they called the store and were left with little or no answers.

A man didnt know how many jobs they had, Frances said. We asked, How many work crews do you have? He said, I dont know. He didnt know anything and worked for this company.

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State investigates recently closed kitchen remodeling company