MFAA
METROPOLITAN FINE ARTS ANTIQUES INC v. 10 WEST 57TH STREET REALTY LLC
The doors are closed, the glitz and glamour have been removed and the lights are out.
Let’s back up for a minute… in 2016, three dealers from Metropolitan Fine Arts Antiques, Inc. (MFAA) were arrested for selling $4.5 million worth of illegal ivory – a felony in New York after a 2014 law passed which aimed to curtail the ivory trade. The company plead guilty for not having a current license and permit from the DEC to sell the ivory. As a result, under the New York Property Law, 10 West 57th Street Realty has evicted them.
According to the law, “Whenever the lessee or occupant other than the owner of any building or premises, shall use or occupy the same, or any part thereof, for any illegal trade, manufacture or other business, the lease or agreement for the letting or occupancy of such building or premises, or any part thereof shall thereupon become void, and the landlord of such lessee or occupant may enter upon the premises so let or occupied.” Love the legalese.
I wonder where MFAA, Inc. will pop-up?
Source: METROPOLITAN FINE ARTS ANTIQUES INC v. 10 WEST 57TH STREET REALTY LLC
A story from one of our readers:
I was almost a victim of Metropolitan Art & Antiques about ten years ago.
I was in NYC on 57th Street and happened to walk into the store. I was immediately greeted by someone who offered me wine and asked if I was looking for something specific. I was pretty amazed by all of the beautiful “stuff” they had in the store from jewelry, to jade, to lapis, to ivory, to coral, and the list could go on and on. I was particularly amazed by the intricate carvings, and once I showed an interest in something specific, that is when they started pouring on the pressure……and the wine.
The hardcore sales pitch lasted about 2.5 hours when I finally decided that I had enough. The items I liked started at about $100,000.00 (for the largest pieces) and went down to about $30,000.00. I remember them trying to include all kinds of gifts including diamond jewelry which they valued at over $5,000.00. I just couldn’t believe what they were telling me and I finally made it out of there. I recall feeling very uncomfortable by the high pressured selling, but my “wine head” almost convinced me to buy something.
AG, Connecticut
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