John Besh Ceases Besh Box Production and Sues Partner

So much for the curated subscription retail experience that was the Besh Box: The Times-Picayune reports that New Orleans chef John Besh's company Team Besh LLC is shutting down Besh Box operations and suing operating partner Box Car Sally LLC. The lawsuit claims that Box Car Sally LLC never provided a promised $500,000 in "startup capital" and that "internal disagreements" between the partners led to the company's end. The Besh Box website appears to be down, but the Facebook page was updated as recently as yesterday.

But what about all the people who have already spent their $55 on a Besh Box that will never come? According to the suit, Team Besh is offering to refund "roughly $200,000 in outstanding subscriptions for boxes that will never be delivered" even though they have "no legal obligation" to do so. The Times-Pic reports that Besh and his business partner stand to potentially lose some $325,000 on the Besh Box project, between the refunds and the initial $125,000 investment they made.

Besh has issued the following statement via an official spokesperson:

"We've made the difficult decision to shut down Besh Box operations as our partner, Box Car Sally, has an internal dispute that has rendered operations impossible. It's greatly disappointing to me, but I have committed to personally refund anyone who has paid for and not received Besh Boxes. Our customers have and always will come first."
- John Besh

· John Besh Files Lawsuit Against Partner in 'Besh Box' [Times-Picayune]
· All John Besh Coverage on Eater [-E-]