Several families are accusing two buffet services, located in Sorocaba and Votorantim, of failing to fulfill children's party contracts, either through abrupt cancellation or failure to provide the contracted services. Both establishments operate under the same administration.
The clients reported that the events were canceled at the last minute without any refund for the amounts paid in advance. A group formed on a messaging application to share these experiences already has over fifty people. As of the publication of this report, the buffets have not issued an official statement.
Problems with Casa do Vovô Buffet in Sorocaba
Solange Nazaro Cassar Arruda hired the "Casa do Vovô" buffet, located in Jardim Europa, Sorocaba, to celebrate her son's second birthday, an event budgeted at around R$ 5 thousand and scheduled for October 10, 2026. On the scheduled day, one hour before the party was set to begin, she received a notification from the hall informing her of the cancellation.
According to Solange, the alleged reason was that employees had entered the buffet and stolen the wiring, television, and video games, resulting in the absence of structure and electrical power for the party. She described the moment as a great frustration, needing to contact guests quickly to prevent them from traveling, although not everyone was notified and some arrived at the location only to see the hall closed.
After the cancellation, contact with the buffet was cut off. Later, the hall re-established contact and proposed an agreement to reimburse the amount in six installments, a proposal Solange refused. She expressed that while the financial aspect was important, the emotional impact was greater, especially since she was eight months pregnant and had to organize another celebration the next day with a reduced number of guests.
Insecurity Among Clients
The situation experienced by Solange and other clients generated a feeling of insecurity among those who still have parties scheduled. Ariane Mendes, a teacher at the "Zilda Pereira Aguilera" Early Childhood Education Center (CEI-89) in Vila Helena, shared her experience. Her team annually organizes the graduation of about 300 Pre-II children in 2026, an event for which the buffet was contracted for three consecutive years without problems.
About a month ago, the team was trying to obtain the necessary documentation from the buffet to proceed with the organization, but discovered that the establishment had ceased operations. Ariane mentioned that the funds collected from the parents of the students were intended for the event, and the Parents and Teachers Association (APM) and some teachers cover the costs to ensure no child is left out. They face an estimated loss of R$ 7 thousand and the risk of not holding the graduation.
Another teacher, Daisy de Oliveira Luz, also hired "Casa do Vovô" for her daughter Lara's 4th birthday on September 26, 2026. However, she claimed that the services did not match what was agreed upon. Guests arrived on time, but food only started being served an hour and a half later, and the appetizers presented were different from those contracted, with the first ones served soaked in oil. Furthermore, the ordered sweets were not delivered, and there were no recreational activities for the children.
Daisy reported having a crying fit during the party and complaining to the person in charge of the contract, who claimed the manager was not present. Later, crepes and burnt churros were served, along with excessively cooked pasta. She also observed that the hall's toys were inoperable and the bathroom showed dirt, moisture, and leakage. The party, planned for 55 people and costing R$ 3.5 thousand, was prepaid. After posting a complaint on social media, Daisy reached a reimbursement agreement with the owner, conditional on removing the post. Although a new contract was signed recognizing the failure, the payment of the first installment did not occur on the agreed date.
Situation at the Votorantim Buffet
A similar case occurred with the "Toca do Vovô" buffet in Votorantim, where the 11th birthday party of a client's cousin, scheduled for October 19, 2026, was canceled just over an hour and a half before the scheduled time. The client received a message stating that there would be no party due to structural problems in the hall, making events impossible. When questioned, the buffet stopped responding.
Through a messaging application, the buffet committed to returning the nearly R$ 3.5 thousand invested, proposing payment in six installments. One of the messages indicated that the company did not have immediate resources to make all refunds in a single payment due to the high volume of affected contracts and the financial impact of the operational halt. After this response, the client lost all contact with the buffet, despite sending subsequent messages questioning the refund deadline.