People miss Dennis Hess. That's something that ought not get lost in all the drama and litigation detailed in this week's feature.
Last summer, Tiffany and David Cox and Deann Leddick were among the assorted friends who shared their memories of Hess and the good times they had at Denim & Diamonds with The Pitch.
Tiffany and David Cox met at Denim & Diamonds when David was a manager there. Tiffany had been a regular long before she was of legal age to drink, and
remembers how, on her 21st birthday, Hess put her in the nightclub's "jail" and made her drink a
bottle of Sex on the Beach mix as mock-punishment.
The Coxes celebrated their wedding and every anniversary at Hess' bar. This year marked their 11th anniversary -- the first time they celebrated elsewhere.
The phrase "Got a minute?" was so closely associated with Hess that mourners had it printed on T-shirts to wear at Hess' memorial. David Cox explains, "If you were a guy, it could be, 'Got a minute? Look at that girl's ass.' Or if you worked for Dennis and you got, 'Got a minute?' it could be your ass."
Leddick breaks in, laughing. "That doesn't mean he hadn't just said, 'Got a minute?' to 10 other people about the exact same thing. He'd tell me some gossip and say, 'Don't tell anyone,' and 10 minutes later I'd hear him telling the exact same story to someone else."
Hess was known for his generosity. He raised money for Toys for Tots, sponsored floats in North Kansas City's annual Snake Saturday parade for St. Patrick's Day and took struggling families on Wal-Mart shopping sprees during the holidays.
One of the owners of Bar 12 says she couldn't have started the business without Hess. When she told Hess she needed $20,000 to open Bar 12 (which, technically, was his competition on Swift Avenue), she says he came by the next day and dropped off a bag containing $20,000 in cash. (That debt has since been paid off.)
When running Denim & Diamonds took over all Hess' time, Cox says, he gave his former business, Service World, to his number-one worker. "Everything he'd built for 19 years, he just gave it to the guy that was running it. That's who Dennis was," Cox says. "That guy still owns it. And it's raised his kids, paid his bills. Dennis could have just shut it down instead of turning it over to him."
Wolfe says, "Dennis was a trip, you know? It was always a roller coaster ride with him ... you never knew what you were getting into with Dennis. But that was part of the excitement, too. It was never the same old shit with Dennis. And if you truly knew Dennis, I mean truly knew Dennis, you knew he was always schemin' and up to somethin', but he was generally a good guy. He made his mistakes in life, but he was generally a good person. And he did care about the people close to him."
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Complain if she's there managing the business, complain if she's not. Some people just LIKE to nitpick. Whatever, knock yourselves out.
GREAT band last night BTW.
That's great stuff, Bill. So what you're saying is that Lena is always there and you've already admitted that you are there all the time as well. So the way I see it is this...who is at home taking care of Lena's little girl while she is working the crowd 3 nights a week until 3am or later? I'm sure the little one's daddy would love to know that!!!
Sounds like Anonymous likes to gossip, but ought to actually go to Denim's and see. Lena's always there and I haven't seen her drunk. She also moves around the club checking that things are going ok, talks to staff and customers. Seems to be doing it right. Frankly, she's a lot more interactive with customers than I ever saw with Dennis; when he was there, he'd be perched on a stool on the side of the bar drinking, period.
There are openings becuase no one can stand to work for Lena. She wont pay on time and when she does pay it is lower than it is supposed to be. She is never around and when she is she is drunk. She avoids her manager's and believes that ignoring the problems will make them go away. Until she is not the owner this place will not do well and it will tank.
Well, Bill, it sure sounds like you are not a loyal person. Too bad, loyalty is a good, noble thing. But at least I can say with friends like you, who needs enemies?
Suicide is a selfish thing; it ignores the hurt it causes. No, Hess didn't HAVE to die June 15th, but he CHOSE to. When someone is in that frame of mind, they can rationalize anything and the suicide becomes something to be looked forward to. Several posts mentioned that he was happy & cheerful in the weeks before. Yes, he'd made his decision, the stress was gone and he was anticipating the final act.
"All his true family and friends wouldn't go"; okay that drops a dozen or so former customers. I, as a customer of a business" don't give a rat's ass who owns a business. I care about the quality of the facility, quality of service, prices. If a business is sold, someone quits, someone dies, and a new person is managing, I don't care. Those who've said they'll never go back, etc., okay, you have some personal issues involved, but 99% of other customers will have above-mentioned attitude instead. There are job openings posted at Denim's? Yes, because bars have a LOT of turnover in staff due to crappy hours, low pay, part-time/no benefits, etc. Been there, done that.
Susie, why did you all follow D&D Guy over to Topix and continue arguing with him? If his opinion doesn't really matter to you, you'd ignore him instead of stalking him on the internet.
How true it is that Lena is a liar and a cheat. In the last two months she has decided to not pay her employees and of course has an excuse every time she is asked for the money. She thinks its ok to screw a family out of $6,000.00 and pretend it doesn't matter. Soon enough she will realize screwing people isnt the best way to go.
To D&D Guy:
When you lost your audience here on the Pitch blog, you cruised on over to the Topix blog to stir up more crap....
Look, D&D Guy, we really don't give a rat's ass whether you go to Denims to dance, you can go dance in the fountains, there's never a crowd there either, but I just don't think you understand why Dennis's friends and family won't go back to Denims. Well, I'm going to tell you and take my word, this is not gossip, okay?
1. All his true friends and his family ARE NOT ALLOWED IN DENIMS...They are on the owners LIST, okay...
2. They wouldn't go anyway, no matter how big the dance floor is, no matter how great the service is, no matter how great the music is....they are HONORING DENNIS'S MEMORY because of what they saw him go through the last 5 years of his life.
3. Alot of the regulars quit going before Dennis died because not only did Lena suck the life out of Dennis, she has sucked the life out of the old Denims & Diamonds.
So, in conclusion, if you look up Denims website, it says there are all kinds of job openings..why don't you go to work for Lena and then you'll have both sides of the story. By your own admission, you didn't know Dennis except to say "hi", so I guess that's why I feel you can't judge the regulars who refuse to go back to Denims. They are not whiners and they are not pouting...They are very, very SAD & HURT that their dear friend DIDN'T have to die on June 15th. Please allow them to grieve in their own way.
David, I know you will never be able to say the words, "He was my best friend" without that hesitation, the lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. What you shared with him was forever!
Crazy Horse is a pretty nice place - good food, pretty good music, nice floor, except the floor is tiny! Unfortunately, it's also a lot farther away, so we likely won't go.
Whiskey Tango's a long drive too; been there 4-5 times. `Bout a month ago we went on a Wed. and were literally the only people there all night; bartender said their business is off a lot too. Plus their dance floor sucks cuz they don't clean it; we won't go any more.
D&D is the best by far. After going to one of the others, it's nice to be back "home" at Denims where we know the staff, owner, and instructors, where we know the music is good, the dance floor is great, and it's pretty close to home. We go to dance, period. Get there early, dance while the floor's open, leave when it gets crowded and we can't dance comfortably.
To David Cox:
Loved your blog...The "haters" obviously have never had a true, best friend and will never be able to understand why it's hard to try to go on with our lives when something like this has happened to someone who didn't deserve it..he "paid" dearly for his past mistakes and made up for them by trying to help other people...by being a successful businessman, he was able to do that. Plus he was so damn charming!!!! Dennis knew and still knows how much you loved him unconditionally...As the saying goes "we sometimes can't help who we fall in love with" and I'm sure Dennis thought he was in full control of his destiny on June 15th. But you will never convince me that what really happened was his plan. I, for one, am glad you finally blogged, because it just feels so damn good to get it off your chest!!!!!!
WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPEND ON JUNE 15TH, THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER, BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT TRUELY KNOW WHAT HAPPEND & THE ONLY PERSON THAT WOULD TELL THE TRUTH IS GONE. TO THE PEOPLE SAYING HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT DENNIS, NONE OF HIS FRIENDS ARE SAYING DENNIS WAS PERFECT, HE HAS DONE SOME THINGS IN HIS PAST THAT HE WASN'T PROUD OF, IT WAS OVER 30 YRS AGO, GET OVER IT. IT'S AMAZING HOW YOU CAN'T LET GO OF SOMETHING THIS MAN DID 30 YRS AGO, THEN TODAY YOU CHEERED ON AN OVER PAID FOOTBALL STAR, THAT HAS DONE MUCH WORSE, JUST BECAUSE HE PLAYS FOR YOUR BELOVED CHIEFS, GET THERAPY. HE HAS LEARNED FROM THOSE MISTAKES & DENNIS ADMITS SOME OF THOSE MISTAKES MADE HIM THE MAN HE WAS. MADE HIM LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, ALLOWED HIM TO LOOK AT PEOPLE EQUALLY, HE NEVER JUDGED A PERSON BASED ON THE COLOR OF THIER SKIN, THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCE, THE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET OR LACK OF. DENNIS WAS 64 YRS OLD WHEN HE PASSED, IN ALL THOSE YRS ONLY 2 WOMEN CLAIMED ABUSE, THEY ARE TWO OF THE SAME, THEY BOTH WANTED THE SAME THING, DENIM & DIAMONDS, & DENNIS LIFE STYLE. I WAS INVOLVED FIRST HAND IN BOTH OF THESE WOMENS LIES & DECEIT, LIKE I SAID THEY WANTED THE SAME THING AT ALL COST, LENA SUCCEEDED. DENNIS HESS WAS A GREAT PERSON, HE WAS THE MOST GENEROUS, CARING, UNSELFISH MAN I KNEW. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, & I MISS HIM MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM OR WHO HE WAS. IN ALOT OF WAYS HE HAS HELPED ME BE THE PERSON I AM, AND I AM PROUD OF THAT & PROUD TO HAVE CALLED HIM MY BEST FRIEND.NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME, AND THATS OK, YOU SEE I DON'T CARE. I DEFINETLY DON'T BELIEVE WE FAILED HIM, WE DID EVERYTHING WE WE COULD, IF YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT WHAT MORE YOU COULD HAVE DONE I UNDERSTAND, BUT LEAVE US OUT OF YOUR GUILT TRIP, I LOVE YOU DENNIS. " I MISS MY FRIEND"
I heard Crazy Horse is pretty good, and they have the same dance teachers. I've also heard they won't kick you out because you used to know or was friends with the former owner, like what has happened at D&D! They also do more lessons too, not just two.
Back when I use to party, if I would have walked into a bar and the dance floor was so open, I would have walked out and taken my money to somewhere fun & crowded...I use to drink expensive drinks and tipped very well for good service...don't blame it on the economy because if me & my friends wanted to party, we ALWAYS found the money and I've been through a couple of recessions!!! Never been to Whiskey Tango, but I've heard that they aren't suffering too bad in this economy...dance floor size never mattered to me..that's what the tables were for!!!!!
Denim's has good music because the current DJs (who aren't the ones Dennis hired) play what's good for dancing. The floor is great because it's well-maintained, used to be and still is; Whiskey Tango's floor sucks. The staff is friendly, helpful, and competent, despite there being turnover, which is normal for bar staff. The patronage is about what it's always been, although down over the past year due to the economy, similar to everyplace else. We're at Denim's several nights a week and see most of the regulars still there. If a few whiners have chosen to go elsewhere, it's fine by me since we prefer an open dance floor.
People have either stayed away or was kicked out by Lena. Did you ever wonder what happened to the shoe shine guy? He showed up one night to find his stuff outside on the sidewalk ... I heard that from some of his friends, and not just from someone who didn't know what they were talking about. I drove by there on a Friday night myself, the parking lot was only 25% full, people were walking over to River Aces. I've had people tell me they've not seen it as slow as it is now... So it is NOT the same people. I know people myself who are staying away because of Cousin It.
To D&D guy:
Denim's has the same music because Dennis made sure he hired the best DJ's...great dance floor that Dennis built with his own hands...but not the same people who watched Dennis build the business over the last 20 years, and because Lena made them feel so uncomfortable with all her drama, they chose to either stay home or go and patronize another bar because they like to dance. By saying a "few" folks are pouting, well those "few" are really about 300-400 friends of Dennis's. Is that how many are coming in Denims on any given Friday or Saturday night. Dennis's loyal patrons loved to spend their hard-earned cash at Denims...In the good-ole days, as the song says "Everybody's waitin for the weekend!" and Denims is where they went and Dennis made sure they had a great time and would be back and bring all their friends & family.....So as much as it COULD have been the same Denims, it's not and you have Lena to thank for that..
"Then it will be a fun place to go, once again. Not the horrid place it has become ..."
It's still the same Denims... same music, same great dance floor, same people there. If a few folks decided to pout and go elsewhere, then it sucks to be them cuz D&D is still THE best place in the metro, much better than Whiskey Tango or Crazy Horse.
By hook or by crook? You people really need to stop posting on these articles and giving her even more ammo. The chances of his family getting anything is so incredibly slim as it is, and this is just making it even more impossible.
IP addresses are recorded and she could come after every single one of you for defamation of character/libel/slander/more restraining orders to add to the list. Stop giving her the attention and ammunition she wants.
And while I understand the grandson's position and anger, he really needs to control his temper before he finds himself in big trouble that he doesn't need to be in.
I'm not saying any of this to start a fight. I'm just trying to give you a heads up at what all this looks like from an outsiders point of view- which is often clearer than those directly effected.
Be smart, patient, and proactive. Not reactive. Good luck.
Diane: I'm convinced that will happen, by hook or by crook, the Hess family again WILL be running it. Then it will be a fun place to go, once again. Not the horrid place it has become with an empty parking lot on late Friday nights.
To More Drama....
I'm trying to understand the part of your blog where you said that Dennis's children failed him..truth be known..that was a two-way street for over 40 years. But the past is the past..What Dennis said to his friends and what he would say to me, the mother of Michelle, are two different things. He was so proud of her for being a strong, independent woman and took care of herself financially. Yes, she asked for money and yes, she got the LECTURE on how to budget!!!! Did any of his friends that he loaned money to get the LECTURE???? My daughter and Dennis had their rough moments and that's what parents & their children do no matter how old they get...The only regret Michelle has is that she wished she would have stayed in Kansas City on June 10th. Could she have prevented her father's death? We will never know that, but she does not regret living in that hotel with him, having a private dick watch their every move, the 3am cruises around KC when Denny couldn't sleep. Her big strong daddy now actually NEEDED her and the last year of his life brought them so much closer & made up for all the years past. She had her dad's back on every decision he made..we all wish we could turn back time and undo some of our decisions, but Dennis just wanted to get that bar back for the family to take over so he could go travel!!!
After reading the bottomlinecom.com bit, I still don't think the picture should have been published... I didn't know Dennis all that well, and it still affected me greatly, and I've seen plenty of autopsy photos and they don't affect me. I imagine it made his close friends and the family that hadn't seen it, feel even worse. I still think it should be pulled off the website.
http://www.bottomlinecom.com/k...
I found that and thought it might give some insight as to why Ms. Pflaum put up the picture and about the story approval from the family.
I'm just sad that any of this happened. If she had never bought that gun, he would be alive today and life would be as we once knew it. I just can't believe someone could be so evil as to do this to a man and his family for greed. I thank God everyday I'm not like that. But I'm also thankful that I now know a great family including Kris, Michelle and her mama, and the rest of the D&D Family.
You know "More Drama" Your right i am above this, and after all the posts here and on other websites, believe me, i was out with some friends last night and ill i felt was shity about everyting that has gone on. I apologise and do not plan on posting anymore.
Shell, I really dont care anymore what you did or didnt do, But so you know i have had words with everyone that was there in court that day. I just wanted you to know HOW MUCH IT HURT MY GRANDFATHER! for you and everyone to be there! Yes you are right they would have fined you or thrown you in jail. But honestly knowing my blood lines, you know i would have told her to f off and would have put my hands together and put the cuffs on myself, before ever being on that stand for her. But oh well... Ill see all of this to the very end one way or another.
p.s. Not a day goes by i dont think about what my grandfather would want me to be doing right now. he is on my right shoulder, and my mom is on my left. A very tough bunch to have in my ears, but i wouldnt have it any other way! :P
Just a few observations...
Kris, I've known you for years. I wish that you wouldn't have had all the heartache that you've had...you NEVER deserved all this! That being said, at some point, the hatred has to go away. You're a much bigger man than that, and you will rise above all of this in due time!
Michelle, please understand that, regardless of what your intentions may have been, perception is reality. I think that your response was classy, and I hope that you can move on and get away from all the drama. You do need to understand that much of what is directed towards you is much the fault of your dad, Harry. Dennis relied on him as a confidante and good friend. Good friends don't sleep with your wife...Harry did. Everyone knew this.
Tiffany, there's no need to prove yourself. It seems as though you're trying to show (dramatically) how much YOU were there for Dennis. We all failed him, and you are in that bunch. I appreciate the things that you did for him in his last months, but, in the end, WE ALL FAILED. No posting is going to change that. Even his own children failed him in one way or another, and I will not get into that.
And finally, Lena. You have always pulled me aside to try to get me to hear your sob stories when you and Dennis were married. You always seemed to be explaining that you cared so deeply for Dennis (even when you went four wheeling without your top...ooops, maybe I wasn't supposed to let everyone in on that one!). Dennis and I talked about that, and we agreed...you're full of shit. All Dennis wanted was to have true love and be there to raise a child. He wanted to do it right, and you derailed it because of your greed. Remember the day care that you so desperately wanted? The creditors do! How many kids enrolled? Two? Wow, YOU ARE A GREAT BUSINESSWOMAN! Dennis provided that for you, but he told you, IT'S YOURS. Nice job there...are you paying the bills at Denims...sorry, stupid question! By the way, when we went to dinner at 54th street before Dennis died, YOU HEARD HIM SAY THAT HE WANTED DAVID COX TO RUN THAT BAR!! But, knowing you, you'll go to your grave trying to deny it!
Everyone, Dennis left us. He didn't say goodbye. He didn't leave Lena and he knew what she was doing to him. We couldn't control it. Dennis has to share in the blame for us being angry, as much as we loved him!
Well Well Well...... Where do i start? Michelle Gifford!! You slimy shit ass loser of a person. You were a trusted and loved memeber of the "Family" But you did side with lena. Court oder or not, you could have not gone, or even stated different facts. I was there, the things you said benifitted you way more than even lena! HAHAH looks like you got the shaft in the end! I was soo happy to hear of you "Leaving" the bar! Kiss both sides of my Hess white ass!
Kris...
First: I am not a "slimy shit ass loser". Second: I did not side with Lena, contrary to your opinion. Third: I've never done wrong towards you or your family reguardless of what you think or have been told. Fourth: You can't just "not go" when you've been ordered by the court. They usually fine you and arrest you for not showing up. By the way, why haven't you called out the rest of the group that was court ordered? There were five others that were ordered to be there besides myself. Why are you only attacking me? Fifth: I sure as hell didn't benefit from anything that happened in that courtroom. I sure as hell didn't want to be there. I simply answered questions that two lawyers were asking me, and I answered them honestly while under oath. I didn't pick the questions. I only answered. They never asked me to just offer any other facts. Sixth: The "Bitch" as she is so well known... Fired me (and, no, she never told me why). She has made life working at your Grandpas bar a miserable experience. I believe she's gettin' rid of anything and everything that has (or has had) anything to do with Dennis. I honestly have been so much happier without that damn job. I don't have to put up with someone elses drama and bullshit anymore. I stayed because I could not afford to just quit the only job I had at the time. I have bills to pay and was making more money there than I would've at McDonalds, and you know it's true. Plus, I became really attatched to the customers. I made a lot of friends there because of Dennis. I'm very greatful for what he let me be a part of. I never wanted Denim & Diamonds to become non-existant.
I'm very sorry if you don't understand. I can't give you back your Grandpa; because if I could, I'd bring back my baby girl too. I had nothing to do with the destruction that happened. I'm sad that you would think I did. I thought more of you than that. But, you're entitled to your opinion, no matter how far from the truth it may be. I only have to answer to the Good Lord someday, and I'm confident that he won't be disappointed with my actions or what is in my heart. He's the only one that can judge me and do it justly.
I do hope you get closure to this someday. I know it's been extremely difficult for you and the rest of the family.
Respectfully Sent,
M. Gifford
To Kansas,
Quote "Love doesn't just fade completely" unquote....June 15th blew our world away..it didn't just fade completely...Quote "No one is that cold" unquote..guess you don't know Lena and witnessed first hand what she did...her mother taught her how to screw people over at any cost. So let's take a poll right now and see who has any sympathy for Lena. She did not love Dennis, she used him to get what she wanted all along and lied to him about everything..that can be proven. Lena has never done an honest day's work..that can be proven, too.
I think that you all need to remember that there are real people and real feelings and lively hoods involved here. What exactly does any of this have to do with any of you personally? Does it affect your life? Does it affect your family or your families goals? No it doesn't. It affects Lena. It affects his relatives. Not us. Bashing people you truelly don't know on a personal level shows your ignorance and lack of compassion. Pray for both sides. Pray they all get piece of mind. Truth comes out in the end. Do any of you see how hard she works to keep that bar open? Do any of you know his families heart ache? How many of you have experienced losing a spouse? Even people who are in dissaccord have grief over the other. Love doesn't just fade completely. No one is that cold. Spend time worrying about yourselves. If you don't support her don't go to the bar. If you don't support the Hess family then go! It's that easy.
Well Well Well...... Where do i start? Michelle Gifford!! You slimy shit ass loser of a person. You were a trusted and loved memeber of the "Family" But you did side with lena. Court oder or not, you could have not gone, or even stated different facts. I was there, the things you said benifitted you way more than even lena! HAHAH looks like you got the shaft in the end! I was soo happy to hear of you "Leaving" the bar! Kiss both sides of my Hess white ass!
Second. I dont like the picture in the article, that is the least of my familys conserns "at the moment" But we cannot change it now.
W.A.D. Hello lena! OR connie without a last name! Lena has caused all of this! She is to blame, ive seen it and have footage of it! I dont lie! Thats why i have an exparte on me at this very moment, because of the way my "FAMILY" raised me! I know who lena is, and Karma will do its thing....
I have seen alot of shit in my life! But nothing compaired to lena! Court here "WE" come!
Here you go lena run to the police or a judge this is me Kristofer! Still here and always will be!!! NO MATTER WHAT!
BRING ON THE JUSTICE!!!!
you know wad im not going to go back and forth with you , you are lenas friend but i will say this ,we miss dennis everyday of our lives, dennis was a huge part of our lives not just david and i but my kids also my kids were heartbroken when they knew dennis would never be back to our house , dennis touched alot of lives many that we will never know , but i know what affect he had on my families dennis will always have a special place in my heart WE LOVE YOU DENNIS AND MISS YOU DEARLY EVERYDAY , I COULD SURE USE ONE OF THOSE SMILES RIGHT NOW LOVE YOU TIFFANY COX
Hey W.A.D. Screw you! Thats what Lena is gonna do in the end. Nobody is bothering Lena, if they did they would have an exparte, so what the hell are you talking about. People don't like the gold digger. DEAL WITH IT! You are in denial! Oh! is this pitcher Dave?
well you are saddley mistaken i never in the 15 years took a dime of dennis money i can say i truley loved him for him , and as far as lena goes i dont even speak to her , because truthfully she makes me ill ,so i dont know why your telling us to leave her alone because i dont bother her, but i will tell you this in the end i very long talks with him and he did not want her to have all his stuff and if you really want to know he just want his bar back and she could of had everything else. tiffany cox p.s you know she is not the only one dealing with the pain we all lost our best friend .in the end dennis had is soul heart and life sucked out if him and i can say in my opion it was because of her
Lordy Lordy,
The chickens have come home to roost now. Yes everybody kept dragging that poor old fellow to court, for what?? So they could get a piece of the pie. Everyone wanted the same thing from Dennis, his money!! I still say Lena was his wife and with him at the time of his death! Leave her alone!!! Try to think how she feels, after seeing her husband shoot himself like that. I am sure all of you in the family have treated Lena real nice throughout their marriage. Like the real classy move of tearing her picture down at the services. You should be ashamed of your actions and leave Lena alone. Sounds to me like the whole family is a bunch of gold diggers to me. Leave Lena alone and move on with yuor life. I think thats what Dennis would have wanted.
oh and one more thing the day dennis told me he was going back i begged him not to go back i told him dennis i have a feeling this is going to end bad, NOW LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED , he told me honey i have to do what i have to do he could not take one more night in a shity hotel so you tell me if you had everything and then nothing would you not want to go home and as for lena they would have been divorced oct 7 and it wopould have been demin and diamonds again most of you have no idea what you are talking about because if it comes out of her mouth it is a lie tiffany cox
ok this is tiffany cox ,let me tell you something before you tell me i need to leave lena alone i will never talk to lena ever again in my life , but i want to make this clear we all spent the last 4 months of dennis life with him day in and day out all the court dates we saw this shit first hand,lena was so insecure in this marriage that dennis thought if he signed this stuff over to her it would help there marriage. but it didnt , when he asked for half back she woulnt and he ended up in a hotel with no car and no money mean while she had 4 cars the bar and the house and all the cash they had do you think she is a good person good people dont do that to people they love, that man was in a liveing hell i really dont think all of you understand so you are the one in for a shock when she is thru with us you will no you have been fooled . i have heard phone coversations with her and him and i could not belave what i was hearing, and as far as the family they have every right to fight for his stuff she does not deserve dennis life she is not the kind of person dennis was ,as far as im concerened all you people that still go done there i dont give a shit because we no we will never set foot in there again because we know the real truth
Dirt W.A.D. You must be sleeping with Cousin It, she clearly put you up to this. He was in the process of getting things back when he "mysteriously" committed suicide... Why would a man commit suicide right before he knows his grandson over to the house to help him do something around the house, and the day before he was going to leave town to visit some friends and get away from her? She originally thought he had only three months to live. Then he was told the good news about his cancer, and that put a kink in her plans! Sure happened pretty quick, didn't it now!
Wow!!
M. Gifford is right~~! If you have something to say about her say it with your name attached. Leave her alone you bunch of pussies!I feel sorry for Lena. All these family members are just pissed at her because they want all her money. No matter how you look at what happened she was his wife. He wanted it that way or it wouldn't have been set up that way. The article said he was an awesome businessman. Don't you think if he was thinking of killing himself he would have changed everything before he did? He wanted Lena to have it all!! Leave her alone and respect his wishes. Nothing worse than family thinking they deserve something for nothing. This family should leave Lena alone and quit spreading rumors about them just to try to keep this stirred up.
M. Gifford
Oh Honey get a grip you did make a deal with the devil and your dad was caught with the devil. Your mom would be so ashamed of what the two of you did to him!
You'd better cherish them, because you're not going to see them down there again until a REAL Hess owns the place again...
There are still people that work there that care dearly for Dennis Hess. They are still working for Denim & Diamonds, just as I did. Are you judging and "labeling" them as well. And what about the regulars that still frequent the bar? Some of the most loyal customers to Dennis/Denim & Diamonds are still going there. Who makes you judge, jury, and executioner?
Life goes on... we don't get to pick and chose what happens. I hope in time, you too, can pick up and move on with life as the rest of us have had to do.
All I can say at this point is: I'm sad that Dennis is gone. I'm sad that his legacy of "Denims" is gone. It will never be the same. I just cherrish the good times we had, the opportunities he gave me, and the friends that I made there.
Make no mistake about it, if a person works for Lena, that's the same as selling your soul to the devil. If you could work there, you shouldn't have any trouble getting a job at another bar. There are other people that used to work there, that had families, that chose to leave because they had respect and loyalty for Dennis.
Oh! The writer wrote a good story no doubt. She put on paper for public to see exactly what kind of person Lena is and what she did to Dennis. It's just it doesn't tell enough about the man Dennis was and how this world was a much better place with him in it. The picture is so uncalled for, what is the point? There are so many people that out there that cared for Dennis and to see that picture, just floods them with the pain of loosing him all over again. That said, Yes WE ARE FAMILY ALL OVER KC! You don't have to be related to Dennis to have been family to him, he touched more lives than most people can imagine.
For those of you who think that my father and I somehow betrayed Dennis, you are greatly mistaken. You never heard the conversations or the messages exchanged between my father, myself, and Dennis. So, who are you to judge and invent accusations against us. Obviously, you don't know either of us personally.
Dennis asked me to come work for him a few years ago, and I agreed. I'm not sure if any of you have taken the time to notice that the employment opportunities have gone down the tubes lately. I could not afford to quit my job on a whim due to other peoples personal lives and the drama that followed. My loyalties are with my family... Not Lena or that bar.
As for the court situation, I was ordered by the court just like everyone else. My father, nor I, made a "deal with the devil".
It's funny that you all want to attack us with no knowledge to back it up. I'm not the one who put that picture in the article. Personnaly, I could care less about your lack of sympathy and you thoughts that we need to ask for forgiveness. I miss Dennis very much. He was like a second dad to me. I'm sure he'd be sickened by all the ongoing drama and bullshit that has occured. You all should be more concerened with your own lives instead of mine. I have no problem with looking in the mirror and regret nothing.
If you're call me out and say these things, be grown up about it. Give your name and own up to your high and mighty opinion. If not, then silence is bliss.
Respectfully sent,
M. Gifford
And if the writer had run what she had written by the persons she had gotten the information from there would not be incorrect information - remember "don't believe everything you read" - that holds with this article...have another beer Nadia!
Well, when the writer SAID she was going to run everything past them, and then did not, THAT was wrong. It wasn't the family's intention to have it be a story against Lena, but they wanted it rather as a tribute to Dennis.
The title of the article shouldn't have read "what started as a love song..." it should have been something more accurate such as "what started as a lie..." or "what started as a gold digging, greasy haired, buck-teethed, deceptive, manipulative piece of garbage's plot..."
Is it just me, or do all the comments seem a tad one sided, like they are all coming from the same camp of relatives. This Lena sounds like a real piece of work, that said, he did keep going back for more. The story and this follow up were great reading, which is kind of the point. If the author had run everything by the deceased's family, then the article would have just been a fluffy Obit.
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