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Couple Accepts That $20K Likely Gone After Wedding Venue ReBar Abruptly Closes

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Workers on Tuesday were cleaning out the kitchen of the popular DUMBO wedding venue reBar, where Heather Epstein was to marry her fiance, Brian Cavanaugh, next month.

ReBar closed without warning last week, and its owner, Jason Stevens, is nowhere to be found, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported. He owed as much as $3 million in unpaid taxes and disappeared with $27,000 in cash and $150,000 in wedding deposits, according to reports. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson is now investigating.

"I think I have to cope with the fact that our money is probably gone," Epstein told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.

ReBar had 200 weddings and events booked through 2016. Despite the customers having contracts, thousands of dollars in deposits are now gone.

Epstein said she had paid the venue nearly $20,000.

"People are donating money to help us figure out our next plan," Epstein said.

"I just hope that justice is served," she said. " ... Since the IRS was after him for so long, I hope he does do jail time."

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