September 3, 2022
Edison Price Evicted From New York Factory
Production moves to California. Twenty-five factory employees terminated without severance.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK — Longtime New York lighting brand, Edison Price Lighting, has undergone a tumultuous last few years. In 2020, the company filed for bankruptcy, and reemerged under new ownership after having its assets purchased for $4.15 million by Elite Lighting of California as part of a bankruptcy auction. On Wednesday, the proud New York brand was evicted from its factory in Queens.
Under Elite Lighting’s new ownership, the Edison Price brand had maintained its Queens manufacturing facility. Ongoing disputes with the building landlord, United Development Venture, that started under Emma Price’s ownership dating back to 2019, have continued with Elite Lighting. The landlord filed a lawsuit against Elite Lighting in July of 2021, which resulted in an August 9th eviction order and a judgement against Elite Lighting in the amount of $456,821.
Joel Siegel, Edison Price Vice President of Sales and Marketing, confirmed on early Friday afternoon that Edison Price Lighting’s former owner, Emma Price, didn't pay the rent to the building landlord, United Development Venture. Those claims were part of a 2020 legal dispute in New York Courts. Siegel went on to state that under Elite Lighting’s new ownership a new deal was struck with the landlord "but apparently Elite is not paying them either." According to court documents, the monthly rent has been $114,079 per month.
Above: Check image of partial rent payment that, according to the landlord, was not backed by sufficient funds.
Siegel also informed us that due to the Queens facility closure, all the Queens factory production will be moved to an Elite Lighting facility in Montebello, California. Twenty-five Queens factory employees were terminated. Many of them were offered jobs in Montebello, but only one worker accepted the offer to move to the West Coast. "Apparently they didn't give any severance packages. They didn't give any benefits."
The company has reportedly rented space in Midtown Manhattan and will retain its technical support and applications team in New York.
