SACO — Several former customers of Maine-ly Stoves and Fuel Yard claim the company failed to deliver goods or give refunds for items that cost thousands of dollars.

Last week, police served search warrants at the store, located at 660 Main St., as well as the 11 Goosefare Drive residence of the owners, John Michael Grover and Lori Morin, in relation to an ongoing investigation.

Saco Police Detective Sgt. Corey Huntress said the police have had “in excess of two dozen complaints,” from customers claiming they did not receive items they had paid for and the company did not respond to requests by customers to get their money returned or their merchandise delivered. Huntress said the alleged complaints add up to “tens of thousands of dollars.”

Richard Olson, attorney for Maine-ly Stoves and Fuel Yard, said the company filed bankruptcy in early September, but the case was dismissed in court Monday of this week. He said Grover and Morin had initially anticipated a loan and filed bankruptcy to stop an auction by the landlord.

Olson said the landlord, Iberdola, which is owed money by Grover and Morin, has worked out an agreement. He said the company has agreed to honor the bona fide claims on items left at the store on consignment and will work with people who made deposits on stoves on the premises.

Olson said Grover had “very serious health issues” and had broken his back. He said this is the worst economy since the Great Depression and it’s a difficult time for small businesses.

“Nobody goes into business with the idea they’re going to fail,” said Olson.

Jen Jones of Lyman said she and her husband paid $3,200 to Maine-ly Stoves for a coal stove that they never received.

“It’s just been kind of disheartening to have someone local who you trusted do that to you,” said Jones.

Jones said Morin promised multiple times to deliver the stove, then would cancel at the last minute, usually with the excuse that Grover was ill. Jones said her husband took four or five days off from work in anticipation that the stove would be delivered.

“She came up with so many excuses,” said Jones.

Lynn Mariello of Old Orchard Beach said she and her husband have lost money to Maine-ly Stoves as well. Mariello said she hopes the investigation will lead to the end of people losing money from the company.

“I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else,” she said.

Matthaus Atkinson, co-owner of Leisure Line Stove Company in Pennsylvania, began supplying stoves to Maine-ly Stoves in February of 2010 and cut off business with them in April of 2011.  Atkinson said Maine-ly Stoves owes his company about $12,000, and Morin and Grover came up with “all kinds of stories,” bounced checks, and on multiple occasions failed to pay them when they said they would.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.