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Hernando Today

Christmas House Up For Auction

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By TONY HOLT

Published: May 8, 2008

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE Rogers' Christmas House could be sold to the highest bidder Tuesday.

The financial woes of the previous owner caused ownership to switch hands to the original mortgage holders. Now the business is up for auction.

George "Wayland" Rogers and Alice S. Rogers Stonaker are the plaintiffs in the civil case against Donna R. Jones, who is more than $1.2 million in debt, according to court documents.

She filed for bankruptcy 18 months ago and was unable to meet the payment deadlines set forth by the court. She lost ownership last month.

"It's very sad what has transpired in the last couple of years," said Brooksville Councilwoman Lara Bradburn.

Bradburn was an admirer of Rogers' Christmas House founder Margaret "Winnie" Ghitto Rogers, who started the business by selling Christmas ornaments and collectables out of her father's department store.

"The Christmas House is not just an economic institution," Bradburn said. "It's a symbol of the heart of a woman who had dreams and ambitions. Her heart was also for the entire city and for Hernando County."

The councilwoman said she knows of several "interested parties" who may want to make a bid for the business. The auction will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the atrium of the Hernando County Courthouse in downtown Brooksville.

One of bidders likely will be George Rodriguez, who has worked at the store for 25 years and is the general manager.

Rodriguez did not return a message seeking comment.

Bradburn was especially critical of Jones.

"She didn't know Winnie," she said. "She didn't know what it took for that business to succeed. She was an absentee owner."

Jones hired her sister, Ann Chapman, to run the store along with her husband. The couple decided to close it in January 2007 after they reviewed the finances. They did so without consulting Jones, who was in the hospital.

When the owner learned of the closing, she fired the couple. She claimed the business was running smoothly and making a profit. Ten months later, she filed for bankruptcy.

Jones has a long list of creditors. One of them is Department 56, a figurine and collectables retailer out of Pomona, N.J. The store filed a lawsuit against her.

Court records reveal she owed more than $93,000 to Department 56 as of Jan. 16. After interest, court costs and attorney fees, the final total is more than $105,000.

The minimum bid for the auction is everything Jones owes, including all the extra costs and interests. That total is $1,202,948.95.

"We didn't want to see it happen," said Wayland Rogers, who now has control of the store with his sister. "It had been going on for a while and it finally came to a head. We certainly didn't want the store back. We sold it."

Rogers still lives in Brooksville. His sister resides in Sarasota and could not be reached for comment.

If no one makes an acceptable bid, the situation could become awkward, Rogers said. Because of Jones' financial difficulties, she likely was unable to supply the store in December and January, which is traditionally when most of the catalogue purchases are made. He does not expect the store to be adequately stocked with merchandise.

Furthermore, there are several outstanding bills that still have not been paid. That could make for some angry sellers who once used to have good relations with the store.

"I don't know what we'll find there," Rogers said. "I don't know about our reputation with our suppliers."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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