East Caln furniture store closes abruptly
By Kathleen Brady Shea



Customers who called the At Home Furniture store in East Caln Township yesterday heard a recording that the line had been "temporarily disconnected."
Police believe the shutdown is permanent.

The Chester County business, which closed abruptly last week, took advance cash or check payments for furniture that wasn't delivered, said Downingtown Police Chief James R. McGowan 3d. He said police went to the store in the Ashbridge Square shopping center last week after a customer complained.

While police were there, one of the principals, Ashraf al-Frookh, 36, backed a truck up to the building, said McGowan. He said officers determined he was a Palestinian with an expired visa from Jordan and turned him over to immigration officials.

Mark M. Medvesky, spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said immigration proceedings are protected by privacy regulations.

"We're aware of him; that's all I can say," Medvesky said.

McGowan said investigators learned that Ziad Saleh, 37, another individual connected to the business, fled to the Mideast with his family the next day. Both Saleh and Frookh lived in Philadelphia, he said.

Last night, police executed a search warrant on the premises and removed business records, McGowan said, adding that computers were already gone.

He said he expected the number of victims to exceed 100 soon, with losses "in six digits."

Fred Younkin, a leasing agent for Fameco Real Estate, which handles Ashbridge Square, said his first hint of trouble came last week when a customer complained about the shuttered business.

Younkin said At Home had signed a 10-year lease last year. He said he thought the company, which replaced another furniture store, was a good fit, joining Home Depot, Best Buy, and other retailers at the shopping center on East Lancaster Avenue.

"We thought we were continuing to improve the center," Younkin said. "Obviously, this was one we read wrong."

Younkin said the business, which owes the landlord money, was affiliated with Ashley Furniture Industries of Arcadia, Wis. Calls and e-mails to Ashley Furniture were not returned.

McGowan said anyone with information should call police at 610-269-0263; customers who paid for and did not receive furniture should bring their order form to the station.


Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at kbrady@phillynews.com.


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