Good News for Customers Who Left Items at House of Renew

BIRMINGHAM, MI – The House of Renew antique and collectible restoration business could reopen in the next weeks in a new location in Berkley.

That’s good news for the dozens of customers — at least 120 of whom have contacted the Birmingham Police Department — who were left wondering what had happened to their belongings when the business suddenly closed its downtown Birmingham location in mid-summer.

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In December, owner Ruth Peppiatt told WDIV-TV that she had fallen behind on her rent and could no longer afford to rent space in Birmingham’s Merrillwood Building, where she had been operating since 1976.

She expected to move immediately into a new space, but said it took months to find the right location.

“Here’s my solution,” Peppiatt told the TV station. “Hopefully within weeks, I’m hoping by the first of the year this will be up and running so we can get back on track. We definitely want our customers to have our pieces back to them. Without a question of a doubt.”

Birmingham Deputy Police Chief Mark Clemence, who has been dealing with frustrated customers, told The Birmingham Eccentric his understanding is that the business will reopen at 12 Mile and Woodward in Berkley.

Clemence told The Eccentric that Peppiatt had indicated the store would open Jan. 15, “but for whatever reason it didn’t happen as planned.”

Birmingham don’t think Peppiatt had any criminal intentions or that she disposed of any of the property. The department is working closely with her to ensure customers get their belongings returned.

The items customers left with Peppiatt were stored in a secure facility, Clemence said.

She claimed it cost her $2,000 to move the items to the facility. To retrieve items requires “big, strong, strapping guys” and moving equipment, she said.

“... I don’t have the wherewithal to move it every single time someone says, ‘I want this piece,’ “ she told the TV station.

One of those customers was Dennis Zabel, of Clinton Township, who left a pottery stand at the business a year ago. He expected to pick it up in June, but the work wasn’t done.

Zabel told WDIV he would be happy to retrieve the item himself, but Peppiatt said she was concerned about incurring liability if a private individual handled another customer’s belongings and damaged them.

Most customers have been supportive and “very kind,” Peppiatt said.

Birmingham police said in a statement in December if customers are unable to retrieve their property when the House of Renew reopens in Berkley, a police investigation will be initiated.