Long Island caterer accused of taking deposits but not delivering services

NEW HYDE PARK, Long Island (WABC) -- A caterer on Long Island is in hot water, accused of stiffing people who paid him to put on a good party.

Former clients say he took thousands of dollars in deposits but never followed through with the services.

"Our impression is, he was a nice man," said bat mitzvah catering client Lisa Hindi. "He was a schmoozer, he liked to talk a lot."

But in the end this caterer did not deliver for Lisa Hindi and quite a few others planning bar and bat mitzvahs for their children.

Now, the New York Attorney General's office confirms Robert Kanowitz, often called "Bobby K" and his now defunct catering company - Dynamic Events - are being investigated.

Lisa Hindi and her family paid Kanowitz a total of $3500, which they never got back.

"We then find out, mid July, the business had closed. I found out through Facebook," Hindi said.

Kanowitz catered beautiful parties for decades on Long Island. But many who had planned bar and bat mitzvahs at Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park suddenly had to beg other vendors to step in, and help them re-group.

And the stories are far worse than the Hindi's. "Worst case was my most recent event two weeks ago, a bat mitzvah, and the mom had a little shy of four weeks to find a new venue, figure out financially how to make it happen because he took a lotta money," said Mario Simone of Hart to Hart DJ Company, adding the amount was $11,000.

We tried many ways to reach Kanowitz Wednesday..at his home in Bethpage, also at Temple Tikvah, where he was the in house caterer.

No answer, and when we called his cell and his business, we got a recording: "Subscriber you have dialed is not in service."

Seemed Kanowitz was not findable, casting a shadow on what many families had considered a joyous time. The question is, how much did Kanowitz know when he was taking his clients' money?

"So he was still taking money knowing," we asked Lisa Hindi. "Correct," she said. "And you feel that's the criminal aspect?" "Absolutely," she said.

"Contrary to what's going on right now, very nice guy, nice parties, and he just took a quick downturn unfortunately," said Simone.