Apex consignment sale canceled after thieves damage building

The popular Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale was slated to start Monday at the Beaver Creek Crossing Shopping Center in Apex.

But Karen Dorman and Michelle Zimmerman, two sisters who own and organize the sale, were forced to cancel the event after they discovered thieves had broken into the space and stolen copper wiring from the electrical system, leaving the facility without power.

“We never dreamed things would fall apart like this,” Dorman said. “We're devastated.”

The two moms-turned-entrepreneurs had to stop working on the sale and come up with a new plan. The snag also threatens the Triangle Family Expo, a bigger event run by the sisters that features about 70 variety of vendors and exhibitors. The expo is supposed to run March 22 -23 in the same space.

The sisters said they are searching for an alternate site.

“We have invested oodles of money in marketing and renting as small business moms trying to help the community,” Dorman said. “We are going to go below zero. We'll be a bankrupt company.”

They’re not the only ones out of luck and out of money. About 200 consignors signed up for the event.

Michelle Bertoncino had tagged five bins of baby clothes. She was banking on making at least $200 at the sale. It’s money the stay-at-home mom said she needs.

“I usually use that money to buy clothes for my three children – get their clothing for spring and summer – and now I have no idea where that money will come from,” Bertoncino said.

Rusty Bucket owner Mack Thorpe planned to set up a booth at the Triangle Family Expo to sell Easter trinkets. He’s already spent $600 to $800 and figures he’ll lose double that if the sale doesn’t go forward.

“The expo was really a benefit to our community, and I'm sad to see that,” he said of the problem.

The sisters still hope to salvage the expo, saying they want to honor their obligations to their consigners and vendors.

But for now, it's lights out on the consignment sale.

“We’re scrambling. We’re really scrambling to find another place,” Dorman said.