I worked at CCV for over a year, and I can confidently say: its closure was not due to lack of interest, sales, or community support. It was killed by the xenophobic Kevin--who never understood the space, never respected the people who cared about it, and never should have been in charge of something so deeply rooted in creativity and connection.
CCV used to be a welcoming, hands-on showroom for crafters, artists, and small business owners--people who wanted to see and feel what they were buying. We had regulars. We had walk-ins. We had momentum. It mattered. But Kevin couldn't see the value in it, because he was too focused on control, ego, his Benedict complex, and pretending he knew better than the people actually doing the work.
He didn't shut it down with transparency or grace--he has none of either. He ignored ideas, made false promises, and completely shut down the moment he had to admit what a failure he was. And let's be clear: none of that is my fault.
Instead, he used my mental health diagnosis as a weapon, sent sexually inappropriate messages, and lied directly to my face. When I confronted him, he deflected by bringing up the fact that I was on my phone a lot at work--which, yes, I was. His shady 'business' is failing miserably, and he gave me nothing to do. He shot down every idea I brought forward after pretending to be on board.
He locked the doors, taped up a sign, and started pretending CCV never existed. Now, customers are redirected to SOS next door--a completely different store, with none of the care or intention that CCV had. It's like stepping into the shell of something that once had a heartbeat.
And beyond the mismanagement? Let's be honest: Lil' Mr. Kevin is xenophobic AF. I'll never forget the day he dismissed a Black customer's concern by saying, "LaQuisha or whatever her name is," with an eye-roll--right in front of staff. It wasn't the first time, and it definitely wasn't the last. Speaking of weak 'men,' honorable mention to Ryan in the print department- he once said that "most black kids don't have dads."
He regularly talks over women and people of color, discredits their ideas, and makes offensive comments disguised as "jokes." He fostered a culture of silence, fear, and favoritism.
I stayed because I believed in what CCV could be. I worked harder than I should have. I tried to help, to fix, to protect what we built. But Kevin didn't want help--he wanted submission.
If you're wondering what happened to CCV--why the lights are off, the shelves are empty, and no one will give you a straight answer--this is why. It didn't fail. It was erased.
This review isn't about revenge--it's about transparency. Customers deserve to know what really happened. read more
