Thomas and Erin Ribeiro, the owners of the Rib and Rhein clothing boutique located on William Street, have been charged by the Newport Police with a combined ten felonies, eight for passing fraudulent checks and two counts of conspiracy.
Both were arraigned in 2nd Division District Court, released on $300 cash bail and ordered to surrender their passports. Their next court date is January 17, 2019.
The couple announced via email that the store would close permanently on November 1st.
“It’s our 10-year Anniversary and we have an announcement to make.We sadly regret to inform you that the Newport Flagship Boutique is closing as of November 1st. After 10 incredible years, we would like to sincerely thank you for all your patronage and outstanding loyalty. This has been the most gut-wrenching, difficult decision we have ever made.”
“We predicted that retail would change even more rapidly in the last five years than it has over the past century. We also believe that bigger changes are inevitable and we as retailers need to make tough decisions. Closing the boutique that many of you have come to know and loved, from when it was just a single level store to joining us in celebration as we expanded to the entire building, is not easy for us at all.”
