CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Workers owed money for building the Epicentre, Charlotte's biggest party spot, lined up Wednesday at a bankruptcy hearing, looking for answers and wondering if they'll ever get paid.
So many people showed up for the hearing regarding Epicentre contractor Advanced Construction and Consulting that it will get a second day in court.
Epicentre subcontractors know how much they're owed.
"$33,000," said Jerome Watts with Fab-Master Fabrications. "Times are hard enough as they are without somebody, seems like, trying to get ripped off."
Subcontractors had hoped the Advanced Construction and Consulting's Chapter 7 bankruptcy hearing and creditors' meeting would shed light on whether they will ever get their money.
ACC says it could pay its debts if it got paid what it is owed.
"This could obviously take a long time," said John Gilmer with Reliable Electric, which is also owed money.
ACC says two stores it built in the Epicentre owe it more than $500,000, and work done on the management office is another $200,000. Overall, ACC says Epicentre developer Afshin Ghazi owes them $1.8 million.
Ghazi said that wasn't true. And, in an e-mail NewsChannel 36 obtained, Ghazi suspected ACC of using Epicentre construction money to fund other projects.
ACC says that is not true, and they're not comingling jobs.
NewsChannel 36 found out ACC doesn't just owe workers for the Epicentre.
"$72,000," said Rick Hunter with R.L. Hunter Electric.
Records show ACC owes Hunter for a separate project in Gaston County and he hasn't been paid either.
"It's devastating and it has ruined my life. I don't know how to deal with it," he said.
Since the lawsuits and liens started flying, ACC's owners, Rob and Rosanne Lenderman, started two new businesses on the same day. Those two new businesses are listed on the Secretary of State's Web site.
The Lendermans said at the hearing those businesses aren't making money.
Subcontractors wonder if ACC's plan is moving on at their expense. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which ACC has filed, is liquidation.
Watts said he believes he won't be paid.
"But the big thing is, if he can't go back into business and stick it to somebody else, it will be worth it to me, spending my time up here making sure everyone else knows what's going on," Watts said.
The creditors meeting will resume Nov. 23.
