Death and taxes for Wild Mag’s
The Wild Magnolia Café, it seems, is really closed for good.
In the days following the NC Department of Revenue’s April 25 seizure the Walker Street music club for failure to pay sales and income tax, co-owner Mike Rowe was still trying to work out a plan with his lawyer to get the taxes paid up and reopen.
But an e-mail newsletter sent by General Manager Ian Bunker on May 3 indicates that Wild Mag’s run is really over, at least in its current incarnation.
‘“Despite our efforts to try to find a way to get our doors back open, we have been unable to overcome the two things that are assured us in life (death and taxes, in case you’ve forgot),’” he wrote. ‘“In our case the two came in the same package. Due to tax problems from several years ago we are unable to keep the man off our backs.’”
Meanwhile, Bunker floated the possibility that another entertainment entrepreneur might take a gambit with the facility.
‘“Since Mike still owns the property,’” he wrote, ‘“we hope that it will reopen as another bar/ music venue through lease or other means.’”
Meanwhile, the Red Lion, a music venue owned by Gary Redd in High Point which was also shut down by the Department of Revenue, has reopened. [See story on page 26]. Keegan’s Pub, a music venue that was closed in late April for unknown reasons, has also reopened.
‘—Jordan Green
