5 Bel Air Area Restaurants Accepting Alchemy Elements Gift Cards

BEL AIR, MD — After Alchemy Elements closed this week, several Bel Air Patch readers said they had purchased gift cards for the business, one as recently as the day before the closure. The restaurant announced Wednesday it shuttered, with no advance notice.

While there are many unknowns surrounding the shuttering of Alchemy Elements, there are ways consumers can recoup their losses.

Some restaurants in the area are helping to soften the blow for those who purchased Alchemy Elements gift cards by providing discounts:

Bella Pizza will give people $10 off orders for those who bring in their Alchemy Elements gift card. It is at 2200 Conowingo Rd., Bel Air.

Fallston Barrel House is offering 30 percent off a bill for those who bring in an Alchemy Elements gift card. It's at 2403 Belair Rd., Fallston.

Hickory Lodge is offering 20 percent off to those who have Alchemy Elements gift cards. It's at 2119 Conowingo Rd., Bel Air. The restaurant also has opportunities for those who lost their jobs, posting: "Did we mention we are Hiring? All positions. Come fill out an application!"

One Eleven Main is offering 33 percent off a check for a party of two. The offer stands from Feb. 21 through March 31 and excludes daily specials; it applies to regular menu items only. It's at 111 South Main St., Bel Air.

Steelefish Grille is giving diners 20 percent off their bill if they present an Alchemy Elements gift card. It's at 660 Boulton St., Bel Air.

Related: Alchemy Elements Closes In Bel Air

Other Ways To Handle Gift Cards

People can contact their credit card company to dispute or cancel the charge if they purchased a gift card. Call the 800 number on the back of the card.

Consumers can also contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint.

Maryland's Office of the Attorney General has a Consumer Protection Division that operates a hotline from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday: Call 410-528-8662. Anytime people can also file a complaint online with the state.

Those who lost money on gift cards are not alone. Several Bel Air Patch readers said they had recently purchased gift cards for the restaurant on Baltimore Pike and shared their frustrations. Here are some comments from the Bel Air Patch Facebook page and article about the closure of Alchemy Elements:

• "They totally took advantage of everyone supporting them; especially around the booming holidays and restaurant week to make some type of personal profit."
• "It would have been nice if ONE day earlier when I went in 2/18/2020 when I purchased a gift card, that they would have told me instead of allowing me to waste my $30. I purchased it for a valued, loyal customer and now I am out the money and she is out the birthday gift! ONE day later they close their doors. "
• "Oh wow im out a lot of money in gift cards! A little warning would have been nice."
• "We spent over $350 in gift card[s] for Christmas. I will NEVER buy another gift card ever again."

Court records show that the owner of Bel Air Town Center filed a complaint against Alchemy Elements Feb. 4 for failure to pay rent. A hearing was set for Valentine's Day but was postponed. A representative from the shopping center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the restaurant's closure.