Alfred Angelo bridal retailer's customers panic amid closures

Brides worry after sudden decision to close

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The Alfred Angelo bridal retailer corporate headquarters in Delray Beach were empty on Thursday. Employees packed their belongings in boxes and walked out. 

Alfred Angelo Piccione and Edythe Vincent Piccione co-founded the company in 1933 and the company website sited their wedding dresses were sold at 4,000 retailers worldwide. The company was running about 60 Alfred Angelo Bridal Signature stores in America. 

A woman, who did not want to be named, said she had to rush to pick up her bridal party dress before the store she purchased it from closed. 

"They called me. I'm in this wedding and they said if you want the dress for the wedding you have to come today because the store is closing and we just found out today. All the employees found out today," she said.

Records show Janet Hoyt of Deerfield Beach filed a lawsuit against the company claiming it had committed Americans with Disabilities violations. The law prohibits discrimination based on disabilities. The case closed in June after a settlement for an undisclosed amount. 

The company debuted their Truly Yours bridal collection in March at the National Bridal Market in Chicago. It was supposed to be available beginning in the fall. They were also planning the release of the Bella Vita collection in 2018. 

They were also marketing their Signature and Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, Sapphire and Modern Vintage collections. 

Local 10 News Managing Editor Peggy Phillip contributed to this report. 

 


About the Authors:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.