Anthony Scott says he had Dream Factory in Southwest Philadelphia booked for his daughter's first birthday party in September. He said he had used the venue for events several times before.
When he went to the venue the morning of the party, however, he says the doors were locked, so he called the owner.
"She said, 'I just left.' I said, 'Well, if you just left, I've been here for a while,' because I had been waiting that morning," he explained.
That was September 13, the morning of the party. He says he then got a text saying his party was canceled.
"10 a.m., she said there was an issue with the power, a DJ blew the power out," he said.
Now he's out $2,700, and he's not the only one.
"I went to social media and I found people, and they found me, and so far we've got 14 people that I have talked to personally on social media that she has done this to," he said.
"I mean, it is a scam and we do want our money back," said another victim who wanted to remain anonymous.
She says her mom was supposed to have her wedding there next weekend.
"The hurtful part for me was my mother's tears. This is her wedding," she said. "She loved that place, and that it was the venue of her choice hurt me the most."
According to court documents, the owner of Dream Factory had been evicted in August after owing nearly $30,000 in rent and taxes. The property was scheduled to go to a sheriff's sale, but the payment was resolved.
The venue, however, remains locked. Dream Factory's last post on social media was in June.
Action News has tried multiple times to reach the owner and we have not heard back.
Customers say they want justice and their money back.
'We're not wrong and we will go public and she will be held accountable," said Scott.
Several victims tell Action News they plan to get together and go to the district attorney's office. They want criminal charges filed against the owner of the venue.