On May 14th, multiple merchants in Wuhan reported that at the end of 2019, they were recruited to settle in the “Pan Yue · City Outlets” in the Hongshan District of Wuhan. The mall has never opened for business and still demands high fees from the merchants. Now, equipment belonging to over ten merchants was mysteriously moved out overnight by unknown individuals, resulting in heavy losses.
For four years with no business operation, the mall has sent letters to demand millions in fees from the merchants. In April of last year, the Market Supervision Bureau initiated an investigation, and in April this year, the Public Security Bureau launched a criminal investigation. However, recently, they discovered that their spaces had been cleared out overnight, with all equipment missing.
Merchant Mr. Li told the media that both the Market Supervision Bureau and the local police station have opened investigations into the incident, but so far, there have been no developments. Every time they try to contact the mall’s management, either the personnel have been replaced or the responsible person is absent.
Mr. Li explained that he was recruited to enter the “Pan Yue · City Outlets” mall in the Hongshan District at the end of 2019, with the mall being managed by Wuhan Da Benying Commercial Management Co., Ltd. The company operates several “Pan Yue” brand malls in major commercial areas in Wuhan.
According to Tianyancha data, Wuhan Da Benying Commercial Management Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of the well-known Wuhan real estate company South Country Real Estate Co., Ltd.
After paying a total of 358,000 yuan for management service deposits, decoration deposits, rent, etc., Mr. Li rushed to complete the renovation, equipment procurement, and installation to catch up with the mall’s “Double Twelve” opening promotion.
However, the mall failed to attract the promised 300-plus brand stores, leading to a delay in the “Double Twelve” opening event. The mall then promised to open on May 1st, 2021, but there was no progress, with new proposals and personnel changes but no progress in opening.
In August 2021, Da Benying Company sent a letter to Mr. Li demanding the payment of over 1.108 million yuan in property management fees, marketing promotion fees, renovation funds, and rent from April 2020 to September 2021.
Merchants believe that after paying entrance fees and investing millions or even tens of millions in renovations and equipment purchases under various promises, the mall failed to open for business, yet demanded hundreds of millions from each merchant, portraying deceitful behavior on the part of Da Benying Company.
In April 2023, over ten merchants jointly reported to the Hongshan District Market Supervision Administration, requesting an investigation into false advertising and other unfair competition practices related to the “Pan Yue · City Outlets” project.
Mr. Li said, “There has been no progress in the case for a long time. Unexpectedly, in late April this year, we suddenly found that although the mall’s doors were usually locked, someone had cleared out all the stores, leaving only the counters that couldn’t be moved.” The various equipment and recreational facilities in his store, totaling around 3 million yuan, had all disappeared.
After the stores were cleared out, they inquired at the mall’s management office, where they were informed that a notice of termination had been sent through email.
Mr. Li stated that Da Benying Company only informed them that after sending the termination notice, the entire mall had been handed over to another company named “Tokamak” for operation. “They said it has been transferred to Tokamak, and they do not know who took the items, nor do they take responsibility.”
On the afternoon of the 14th, a reporter from Cover News saw that both Da Benying Company and Tokamak Company’s project offices were located on the same floor in the building where the mall is situated. When the reporter inquired about the collaboration between the two companies and the missing items, a lady in Da Benying Company’s office said, “The leaders are all unavailable, and we are not authorized to give interviews. If you want an interview, please go to the company’s headquarters, register at the front desk, and follow the procedure.”
Inside Tokamak Company’s office, a female leader stated that the leaders were not present, and she was unaware of the situation.
After leaving the mall building, Mr. Li tried contacting the Luonan Market Supervision and Management Office and the Luonan Police Station of the Hongshan Branch of the Wuhan Public Security Bureau to inquire about the progress of the case, only to be informed that the case handlers were not present and could not provide contact information for them.