I tried to buy the business but we could not come up with a deal we were both happy with.
So he shut the doors and didn't get a dime for the business, instead of working out a deal with you? Makes no sense...
Maybe he was like one of those guys with a rotting classic car that wanted top dollar or he'd just crush it to spite people? I bought a few things from him. Great quality. He filled a need that many of us still have.