Simply Body Is Simply Gone

shut its doors with no warning, leaving many area residents holding gift certificates and pre-paid appointment receipts that are now worth just the paper they’re printed on.

The spa closed up shop on Wednesday, but is still advertising gift certificates for sale, as well as allowing visitors to the website to continue to purchase gift certificates. Neither the website nor the company’s answering machine makes any mention of closing.

Gina Salomoni, like many people, has several gift certificates to the defunct business that have now been rendered useless.

“I feel really bad for the people who spent thousands of dollars on spa packages that are now SOL,” said Salomoni. "It's so shady. At the very least they should shut down the website right away."

Jeff Nisberg of Shelton pre-paid for an appointment on Wednesday at Simply Body, according to WTNH, and paid $1,100 for a spa package he likely will never receive.

“That’s unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable, if that’s the case, I definitely would like to be reimbursed for the money that I gave to them up front,” said Nisberg to WTNH.

No signs or warnings were put up according to neighboring businesses. Virginia Montalvan at next door saw them moving a large number of clothes and other items out of the store on Monday, but said she thought it was a spring-cleaning or renovation.

“We’re all surprised. I never saw it coming,” said Ed Tammany of the , another business in the shopping plaza. “They’re really nice people, that’s what I don’t understand.”

Tammany went on to say that the high cost of leases in the area could be a factor.

“Some places along Bridgeport Ave are paying $30 a square foot,” said Tammany. “That’s ridiculous.”

Connecticut’s Better Business Bureau have received several complaints about the business, mostly by customers with gift cards wanting a refund, according to WTNH, who also reported that the state’s Attorney General’s office and the Department of Consumer Protection are also looking into the matter.

Editor's note: As of 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Simply Body's website was cleared of any content and information.