NO HUGE SURPRISE here. The rumors had been leaking out for the last few months.
The deal that had the Double Trouble guys, Bill and Pat Digneit, and their partner, Alyssa Pilot, buying the Wild Rover, is off.
Bad news for downtown. Bad news for everybody.
The culprit, as it is in so many of these transactions, was in the details and deadlines not being met, and the resulting wariness on the part of both the buyer and the seller, and the bank.
In the end, they couldn’t overcome their differences and the Digneits and Pilot are searching for another venue in town.
That leaves the Rover, in the heart of the downtown dining/drinking/entertainment district, with an owner who wants to sell the building, but unable to find a buyer. Other potential buyers have sniffed around and shown some interest, but not at the asking price.
Too bad. The Digneits, who’ve established stellar reputations providing entertainment and special events with Double Trouble DJ’s, were promising to inject life into the Rover, which had never quite achieved the kind of success many had expected.
It’s in dire need of involved, on-the-scene owners.
By the way, it remains open–full of potential–but you get the sense it could use a big, warm hug from a loving owner as winter approaches. It won’t be getting one, at least not in the foreseeable future.
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ONE CONSOLATION, THOUGH.
Double Trouble will be throwing a big party this New Years Eve just a few doors down from the Rover, at the Masonic Square Mall.
A live band and a DJ. Champagne, drinks, appetizers, a ball drop inside, huge projection screens. 21 and over.
It’ll start at seven and continue to 2 am. You can celebrate out on the streets if you like, but then come inside to…..ahhh, warmth. And pounding music.
Just a guess: it’ll be a big hit.
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