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By PHIL LAPADULA
Friday, May 18, 2007
Georgie’s Alibi, the popular Wilton Manors gay bar, has two new owners.
Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete, owners of Bill’s Filling Station bar, have bought out two of the Alibi’s owners. But George Kessinger, the man who is most associated with the Alibi and its namesake, will remain as a partner.
All three men said they plan to enhance the bar’s current product but are planning no major changes.
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Padgett said. “George [Kessinger] is staying on as a partner so that we can continue the consistency of the product. We will assist George in enhancing what is already successful. Georgie’s Alibi is one of the most well-known gay bars in the nation.”
Padgett and Negrete bought out Alibi partners Terry Norman and Ron Gofrank. They closed on the sale May 15. The sale will have no effect on Kessinger’s other bars, the Georgie’s Alibi in St. Petersburg, Fla., and a new Alibi that is scheduled to open in Palm Springs, Calif., in October. Kessinger said the Wilton Manors bar will continue unchanged as well.
“I don’t expect anything to change at the Alibi,” Kessinger said. “It adds some new excitement to Alibi. [Padgett and Negrete] are both community minded. We expect to continue to give back to the community.”
Even though Padgett and Negrete together will now hold a majority interest in the bar, Padgett said they consider Kessinger “an equal partner.”
“We have great admiration for him and what he’s been able to accomplish,” Padgett said.
Padgett and Negrete bought Bill’s Filling Station about a year ago. Padgett said the Alibi sale offers cross-marketing opportunities that could benefit fund-raisers and other events.
Under the new ownership, the bar will focus on “service excellence and maintaining its flavor,” Negrete said.
“It’s the meeting place, the hang out,” he said.
After opening in 1997, the Alibi quickly emerged as one of the most popular gay bars in South Florida. The bar celebrated its 10th anniversary with a series of special events in March and April. The bar offers a variety of venues, including a sports bar, video bar and food café, as well as special events such as drag shows and art exhibits.
“We’re all going to work together to make Alibi even more successful,” Kessinger said.
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