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Aug. 27, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Trevi Architectural will close

Many factors said to prompt demise of fountain maker

By ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

A fountain at The Venetian and Palazzo made by Trevi Architectural is shown Tuesday on the Strip. Trevi Architectural will close Friday.
Photos by K.M. Cannon.



A security guard on Tuesday walks by Trevi Architectural at 2701 Westwood Drive. The company has made sculptures, molding, casting and architecture for many high-end Las Vegas resorts.

Entrepreneur Scott Acton has spent the past few days trying to ensure that his customers, which include some of the biggest names on the Strip, will get their orders filled.

Trevi Architectural, which has provided custom fountains, statuary, sculptures, columns and moldings to resorts ranging from Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau, The Venetian and Caesars Palace, is closing Friday due to a "multitude of issues," the company founder said.

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    • Acton, who founded the company, said a combination of factors led to the business's closing, including a series of unpaid bills and a decision by the company's new owners not to put any more cash into the business.

    Most of the company's 147 workers were fired Monday.

    Acton wouldn't say how much work is outstanding, but he has been communicating with the resorts and is trying to get orders moved to other companies.

    "I don't want to see any one of my customers get hurt," said Acton, who was named Nevada small-businessperson of the year by the Small Business Administration in 2005.

    Representatives for the Wynn and Caesars Palace declined to comment on the Trevi closing.

    Beyond dealing with big resorts, the company also sold fountains, planters and statuary to homeowners through retail stores.

    Trevi also worked with Roger Thomas, longtime designer for Steve Wynn, to produce a home collection.

    Private-equity firm Ampersand Ventures bought Trevi Manufacturing on Sept. 17, changing the name to Trevi Architectural.

    According to Acton, Ampersand recently decided not to put more money into the business.

    "They changed the business quite a bit," said Acton, noting the firm closed the fountain division soon after the acquisition. "They put some different management in place that wasn't familiar with Las Vegas and how it works."

    However, the company did double its sale volume since the transaction, but the refusal of a few vendors to pay outstanding bills got Trevi "into a sticky situation."

    A pair of lawsuits have been filed since May by Trevi in Clark County District Court claiming unpaid bills totaling nearly $108,000.

    A call to Ampersand's office in Wellesley, Mass., was greeted with, "We don't talk to the press."

    Ampersand was founded in 1988 as a spin-off of the asset management firm PaineWebber. Ampersand describes itself on its Web site as a middle-market firm focusing on health care and industrial companies.

    Acton's work is part of the backdrop of high-end Las Vegas: from the three-tiered fountain in front of The Venetian, to the pirate ships at Treasure Island to the subtle touch of cove moldings behind light fixtures at Caesars Palace.

    Acton said he is not sure what he will do next, but he is thinking about restarting the business.

    He learned the business from his father, who in turn learned it from Acton's grandfather who had worked in Hollywood.

    "My grandfather started with Walt Disney in the 1950s," he said

    Acton's first job after arriving in Las Vegas 14 years ago was working on the pirate ships at Treasure Island.

    Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.

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    Mark Krmpotich wrote on August 29, 2008 08:06 AM: Scott, start from fresh! You've got what it takes to survive the Vegas business scene. Good luck!!


    Khanh wrote on August 29, 2008 08:04 AM: Listen to yourself "Casinocon" ... Scott's greedy?? 108K is not even his yearly salara, you think because of that he wants to throw away his family's business?


    casinocon wrote on August 27, 2008 02:10 PM: There's a whole lot of backstory we're not getting here. How much did Acton get when he sold out to the Private Equity firm? $100,000 in outstanding bills doesn't sound like enough to wreck this company. Once again, greed (on Acton's and the firm's) part killed the golden goose. It sounds like a fascinating business, full of talented employees, too bad it was ruined by the greedy white collar muckety-mucks.


    JV wrote on August 27, 2008 01:35 PM: I know Scott personally and have done buisness with him, he's a great guy. I know he cares about his employees, and was probably devistated at the sudden closure. These large companies don't have a problem closing down any operation, it's nothing more than a check mark on a piece of paper. If I know Scott he'll be back in the saddle soon, and I wish him well and hope that I have an opportunity to do buisness with him in the future!!

    JV


    Gump wrote on August 27, 2008 09:41 AM: It is an unfortunate reality that Las Vegas is in a very dangerous economic downturn. The assumption by some of the posters that Trevi and many of the other businesses that are casualties of this downturn are ridiculous. Many business owners are taking money out of savings, going without pay and making sacrifices so that the employees can continue to work. When they get stiffed by their customers they have no other option but to close.
    Some bosses are greedy, good for nothings, but don't assume that they all are. kenodave is talking out of his @ss with his comments, and has most likely never dealt with Scott Acton or even seen Trevis operation, other than the times he has stumbled out drunk from the strip club next door.


    kenodave wrote on August 27, 2008 09:08 AM: "I don't want to see any one of my customers get hurt, said Acton"

    'Most of the company's 147 workers were fired Monday.'

    I am glad Acton has such concern for his customers. I am disgusted at the lack of compassion for the employees. But then, this is Vegas where employees are treated like paper plates. Use them and throw them away.


    Patrick wrote on August 27, 2008 05:49 AM: This is common when an investment firm buys a company. The investment firm only is looking for the financial rewards it can squeeze out of a company. If not as cash cow, then as a tax write off. Being purchased by an investment firm is never good news.


    Tom Best wrote on August 27, 2008 04:40 AM: A call to Ampersand's office in Wellesley, Mass., was greeted with, "We don't talk to the press."

    Typical greedy East Coast know-it-all people who put their wallet ahead of their employees. Can you say Adelson or Loveman? I feel bad for Acton-seems like a nice guy. I grew up there, and would never go back. Dirt bags is the least offensive word I can use for them....