Short-lived magic theater is Wichita’s latest coronavirus-related business closure
The latest business to fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic is a downtown Wichita magic theater that opened just four months ago.
Owner Michael Blackhart has closed his Blackhart’s Magic Theater & Shop, which he opened in late January at 1520 E. Douglas. He made the announcement on the theater’s website late on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, the only thing I didn’t plan for was a global pandemic that shut down the entire world almost immediately,” he wrote.
Blackhart, a longtime magic enthusiast who said he was selling out shows during his short time in business, said he can’t continue to pay his rent with no income, and he was unsuccessful when applying for government assistance programs.
He said his landlords were “not evil people. They are not wealthy people preying on a small business. They are regular people just like you and I.”
He got a good deal on the building when he first opened, he said, and is grateful for that.
People who still have unused tickets will be contacted next week about refunds, he said.
During its brief time in business, the 100-seat theater put on weekend shows by traveling professional magicians and offered magic classes for kids. It also included a retail magic shop.
Blackhart had previously operated Puff’s Vape Shop but closed it so he could transform the space into a theater.
“Thank you all most sincerely for your support during our very short run at Blackhart’s,” he said in the post. “Thank you for your business, thank you for bringing your friends and family and thank you for putting down your phones, even if for a couple hours, to experience real magic again in Wichita.”
He finished the post with a plea to any rich investors with a soft spot for magic.
“”If any of you know a millionaire with a huge heart and several thousand dollars to loan, please tell them to email Magic@MagicWichita.com to keep the MAGIC alive in Wichita,” he wrote.
This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 10:33 AM.
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