In a jaw-dropping feat of entrepreneurial prowess, struggling salesman Michael Barney defied all odds to create the world’s most infamous strip club. This establishment is not your average nightspot; here, celebrities are known to have cash delivered in armored trucks – yes, you read that right, $100k in cold hard cash! Barney’s journey from door-to-door sales to running this lavish and scandalous hotspot is a tale worth telling.
Michael Barney, a struggling salesman, faced numerous challenges before venturing into the world of entrepreneurship. Despite facing rejection and financial setbacks, he persevered.
He encountered countless closed doors in sales but saw each one as an opportunity to learn and grow. Through resilience and determination, he honed his skills and mindset for the entrepreneurial journey ahead.
Barney’s transition from salesman to entrepreneur was marked by his ability to spot unique opportunities. He recognized a gap in the market for high-end entertainment venues and decided to capitalize on it.
By leveraging his sales experience, Barney strategically positioned himself to create something truly remarkable. His keen eye for spotting trends and consumer preferences set him apart in the competitive industry.
With unwavering dedication and a clear vision in mind, Barney embarked on building what would become the world’s most notorious strip club. The club’s allure extended beyond its entertainment offerings; it became a symbol of extravagance and luxury.
According to the SUN;
It is the most infamous strip club in the world, but it is also where some of America’s most influential rappers made their names.
And now Magic City is getting its own moment in the spotlight as rapper Drake has made a documentary about the legendary Atlanta venue.
The club was opened in 1985 by toner cartridge salesman Michael Barney who played DJ, barman and bouncer while his only dancer separated men from their money.
But his friends didn’t call him “Mr Magic” for nothing – his slick-talking sales pitch meant the celebrities soon came flocking.
Superstar athletes like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal could rub shoulders with legendary music stars like 2pac, Biggie Smalls, Cee Lo Green, MC Hammer and Nelly.
Over the years the club has survived an arson attack and its founder being jailed for federal drugs conspiracy charges – but somehow it has managed to retain its magic and is still going strong today.
Rapper Jermaine Dupri, co-creator of the new documentary, described the club to Atlanta Magazine as a place where “you can go on Monday night and stand beside a millionaire, the biggest thief in Atlanta, the biggest drug dealer in Atlanta, the police, and one of the biggest rappers or R&B artists in the world – all in the same room.”
As Mr Magic built his strip empire, with more girls joining his team, and musicians like Outkast testing their new music by watching the girls dance, the club gained a reputation as the place for punters to party and up-and-coming music stars to try out their new tracks.
DC the Brain Supreme was working at Magic City when he scored a smash as one-half of Tag Team with “Whoomp! (There It Is).”
And as celebrities started to frequent his club Barney realised he had hit on the magic formula – his club was a place where people wanted to be seen and be able to party with their idols.
But in 1994, Barney was jailed for ten years after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and he sold the club to his brother-in-law Derrick Cooper.
Then a year later Magic City was gutted in an arson attack for which no-one was ever charged – but it rose from the ashes to become centre of Atlanta’s music scene once more.
By the time Barney was released from prison in 2001, he found the club scene had moved in his favour – rival clubs were closing and DJ Nando created “Magic City Mondays” – the most popular night of the week.
There was a “pay-for-play” system where artists would pay strip club DJs to play their records so the artists and record execs could gauge the crowd’s reaction.
In 2018, rapper Future turned the club into “Future City” to celebrate his 35th birthday with his famous pals including Drake, who was rumoured to have had an armoured truck deliver $100,000 in cash to the strip club.
Barney always said that the heart of his business was good customer service – and the professionalism of his dancers. And they earned good money for it.
A 2019 Channel 5 documentary on the sex business found that the hit-making dancers in Magic City were earning £78,000 a year – and up to £6,000 a night in tips alone.
But Barney ensured their roles were never about sex – and the dancers became stars in their own rights.
Jermaine Dupri recalled: “Back when I was going at my early age, it was really about the dancers. You knew the dancers by name. You used to have Whyte Chocolate. You used to have these girls who were almost stars – before Instagram by the way. Strawberry, Destiny, you used to go to the club to see these girls dance.”
Barney is pretty much semi-retired now and the club is run by his son Lil Magic.
“You can go on Monday night and stand beside a millionaire, the biggest thief in Atlanta, the biggest drug dealer in Atlanta, the police, and one of the biggest rappers or R&B artists in the world – all in the same room”.
In recent years it has been beset by controversy once more after a series of shootings.
But Mr Magic himself – who rarely gives interviews – always wants to reflect on the good times, telling Atlanta Magazine: “I’ve been truly blessed. Even when I’ve run into trouble or I’ve been spanked by life, I rebound.
“I believe that rebounding is a blessing, and I just believe that I am truly blessed.
“At my funeral, don’t cry. I had a hell of a run. Ain’t no need for no tears, man. I owe it all to the people. The people did it. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t no “magic’ behind it.”
It’s impressive how Michael Barney went from a struggling salesman to a nightlife mogul, creating the most notorious strip club where celebs get $100k delivered in armored trucks. Despite facing challenges, he transformed obstacles into opportunities, making his club a celebrity hotspot with unique features. From armored truck deliveries to overcoming development hurdles, Barney’s journey is a testament to perseverance and innovation.
Flip to the next for wild pictures from the notorious strip club…