Alison Victoria has become a household name in the interior design industry thanks to her work on the popular HGTV show Windy City Rehab. The show follows Victoria and her business partner, Donovan Eckhardt, as they renovate properties in Chicago, with the ultimate goal of turning a profit. However, after a string of controversies, Victoria and Eckhardt have gone their separate ways. Here’s a look at what happened to their business partnership.
The Controversies
It all started with a lawsuit filed against Victoria and Eckhardt in 2019. The lawsuit, which was filed by homeowners who had purchased a property renovated by the pair, claimed that the renovation was shoddy and full of code violations. The homeowners alleged that Victoria and Eckhardt had cut corners and ignored numerous safety and building code regulations. The lawsuit sought $2.2 million in damages.
While the lawsuit was ongoing, more controversies began to emerge. A Chicago building department investigation found that Victoria and Eckhardt had violated numerous building codes during their renovations, including performing work without the necessary permits. There were also allegations that Eckhardt had misused funds from the business and had failed to pay his vendors and crew members.
Despite the mounting controversies, Victoria stood by her business partner and co-star. In a statement, she said that she was “actively taking steps to remedy any issues” and that she remained committed to “bringing beautiful homes to Chicago.” However, as the lawsuits continued to pile up, the situation came to a head.
The Split
In 2020, Victoria announced that she would be cutting ties with Eckhardt. In a statement, she wrote that she had “discovered some personal and business issues” with her co-star and that she would be “moving forward on her own.” She went on to say that she remained committed to “upholding the highest standards of ethics and transparency” in her business dealings.
Following Victoria’s announcement, it emerged that she had filed her own lawsuit against Eckhardt. The lawsuit alleged that he had mismanaged the finances of their business, causing it to incur massive debts. Victoria claimed that Eckhardt had used business funds for personal expenses, such as his wedding and a trip to Europe.
Eckhardt, for his part, denied any wrongdoing and filed a countersuit against Victoria. He alleged that she had breached their partnership agreement by withholding funds from the business and by failing to act in its best interests.
The Aftermath
The legal battles between Victoria and Eckhardt are ongoing, with no resolution in sight. However, Victoria has moved on professionally, launching her own design firm and signing on to host a new show called Flipping Across America. The show will follow Victoria and her co-host Mike Holmes Jr. as they travel the country renovating properties.
While Victoria has not spoken publicly about the split with Eckhardt since her initial announcement, it’s clear that the experience was a difficult one for her. In a recent interview with People, she said that she had learned a lot from the experience and that she was “stronger for it.” She also affirmed her commitment to maintaining high standards in her business dealings, saying that transparency and ethics are “what makes a good foundation for a business.”
Conclusion
The split between Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt was undoubtedly a messy one, with numerous legal battles and allegations of financial impropriety. However, it’s clear that Victoria is determined to move forward and to continue pursuing her passion for interior design. As she embarks on this next chapter of her career, she serves as a reminder of the importance of ethics and transparency in business dealings, no matter how tempting it may be to cut corners or take shortcuts.