Geek Chic, maker of high-end gaming furniture, closes

EVERETT — An Everett company that won fanfare for its deluxe, high-end furniture designed for playing tabletop games has shut down.

Geek Chic announced on its website and social media pages this week that it had ceased operations.

“Despite heroic efforts by many, this outcome is out of our hands,” wrote company owner Robert Gifford.

The message does not give any information for people who have paid for tables and other furnishings and have not received their purchase. Gifford wrote that the company is limited in its ability to respond.

“The website will be updated with appropriate contact information and procedures as they become available,” he said in the message.

Gifford did not respond to an email to the company or social media messages.

Geek Chic made tables and other furniture for people to gather around to play games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Monopoly or pinochle. The tables featured cup holders, removable tops to store away games and hideaway drawers and shelves to stash dice and game books.

The tables were priced anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The tables were made at 711 100th St. SE in Everett.

Gifford came up with the idea for the business about 10 years ago and sold the tables at gaming conventions. He quickly drew a fan following with more than 17,000 Facebook fans and more than 5,000 Twitter followers.

He and his company were featured on the “Shark Tank,” the ABC show where a panel of investors offer entrepreneurs money for equity in small and growing companies. Entrepreneurs also receive publicity.

Gifford sought a $100,000 in exchange for a 5 percent stake in the company. Technology mogul Robert Herjavec offered $300,000 for 25 percent of the company and Gifford accepted. On-air deals aren’t final though and the deal fell through off camera.

In a story in 2013, Gifford said his company made $2 million in revenue in 2011, but lost $100,000. The company suffered similar losses in 2012.

“Any kind of rapidly expanding business can be expanding and losing money,” Gifford said at the time. “Amazon lost money for almost a decade before it turned profit, and now it’s a monster.”