In Atlanta, a city where chicken wings, Black Hollywood and trap music are highly revered, there’s one mystery that outsiders have never truly understood. Magic City strip is one of the famous strip clubs in the world, but most folks don’t know it’s origin story.
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You probably recognize Magic City from the many references throughout hip-hop and in the sports world. For the last four decades, the club has remained an integral part of the city’s fabric, where athletes, politicians, influencers, rappers and everyday people come together under one roof. Now, The Root is giving you the inside scoop on the lore of the iconic nightclub.
A Legendary Beginning
It all started with a dream. In 1985, Michael “Magic” Barney had a vision to change strip club culture and create an establishment where customer service was king. “I used to go in [strip clubs] with a suit and tie and watch them beat people and drag them out. Back then, there was Montre’s, Purple Onion,” Barney told Atlanta Magazine. “Strip used to be dusty, old spots…I always imagined if I could get a higher quality of women, how it would go.”
The Recruitment Phase
Magic City started off with only one dancer, Barney said. And as the staff grew, Barney would show the girls the ropes. “He was the leader,” DJ Cecil “DC the Brain Supreme” Glenn said of Barney. “He’s the one who taught the girls how to do it. He taught them the game. That’s why so many of them are so loyal.” According to Glenn, Barney took his role as CEO very seriously and focused on changing the stigma of strip culture. “He taught them [the dancers] how to be women,” he said. “He was great for advice because he was so candid.”
2 Years In…
By 1987, Barney was a master of the game. He made sure to always pay the liquor taxes on time and to close on time. Not only that, but Barney was not in the business of being sued or shut down — even though this was expected at nightclubs of the time. So, permits for the Magic dancers were required and updated often.
Athletes Take Notice
At any strip club, you’re bound to see athletes, musicians and rich business men ready to spend money. Barney said that at Magic City, it was the sports stars who helped shape the club’s fame. “I used to play football for Duke, so I knew how to relate to Deion [Sanders] and the football players,” he said. “Then it just grew from there.” NFL legends Sanders and Dominique Wilkins were some of the first big names to party at Magic. That, according to the owner, was the key to the club’s success.
Jermaine Dupri and the Rappers of Atlanta
By the mid-90s, Magic City was doing pretty well. The annual Freaknik parties going down in Atlanta every spring break always guaranteed money for the club, and that on top of big spenders going in and out of Magic solidified the club as an nightlife staple. At the same time, music executive Jermaine Dupri was the hottest thing on the block, but Barney wouldn’t let him into the club until he was of age.
“My success came at 19,” Dupri said. “I could drive around, I had cars, but I couldn’t get in clubs. And I thought that, ‘I can probably get in to Magic City.’ And I had a rude awakening.” When he was 21, Barney started doing business with him. And that led to an influx of rappers and singers popping up at Magic.
What’s the Real Magic Behind Magic City?
Magic City has outlived many of its competitors for one reason: everyone is a star there. Barney created an environment where people from all walks of life can come together for good food and unbeatable entertainment. Dupri broke down the secret to Magic’s success in a recent documentary about the nightclub, “Magic City: An American Fantasy” on STARZ.
“You could be standing by the biggest thief in Atlanta, the biggest drug dealer in Atlanta, the biggest rapper in Atlanta, the biggest basketball player in the world, a movie star, a politician,” he said. “They’re all in the same area— treated the same, having the same conversations and you wouldn’t know the difference, because the club doesn’t cater to just one person.”
The Famous Magic City Kitchen
It’s unclear exactly when Magic City started serving food. All we know is the chicken wings were an automatic hit then and have continued that reputation until now! In fact, the wings are so good that even NBA player Lou Williams had to make a pit stop to grab an order, which made headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I didn’t sneak out of the bubble to go to Magic City,” Williams told “Gil’s Arena” back in June. “They excused me from the bubble to go to a funeral. The funeral home was a block away from Magic. This is my hometown and if you know ATL, we eat in our strip clubs, that’s where you can find the best food.”
Magic City II
Did you know Barney opened a second strip club called Magic City II in 1989? This location was in Birmingham, Ala. — a city which just so happens to be nicknamed “The Magic City.” But of course, there’s nothing like the original.
Barney Goes to Prison
In 1994, Mr. Magic himself was accused of running a drug ring and convicted on federal conspiracy charges. Obviously, Barney’s 10-year prison sentence was bad for business and this meant he couldn’t run the show. In order to minimize the fallout, Barney sold the club to Derrick Cooper, his brother-in-law. But that wasn’t the end of uphill battles for the club.
Magic Burns Down
One year after Barney started his prison sentence, Magic City was set on fire, though no one was ever charged with the arson. “It took them maybe a year before they were able to reopen,” Barney said of the club. “It was always everybody pointing at everybody, just a conspiracy of different people, but you never knew who did it for real.” By the time Magic reopened, many of the dancers and DJs started working at other clubs in the city.
Making a Comeback
Despite the owner going to prison and part of the building burning down, Magic City survived! Folks often forget the shaky history of the club, which is a testament to Barney’s reputation and his respect in Atlanta.
Dancers Become Famous
Some Magic City dancers are so popular inside the club that their fame has reached past Magic’s four walls. One of the most popular dancers was Jessica Dime, who is still a cast member on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.” Others like Whyte Chocolate, Chyna Doll and Suga have all made a name for themselves outside of the club.
Dancers Sue in 2014
In 2014, a group of Magic City dancers filed a lawsuit against the club claiming they were misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees. This meant the women couldn’t receive minimum wage or overtime, which violates the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In 2017, Magic City settled for $1.1 million, Atlanta Magazine reported.
Magic City Breaks Rap Records
If you ask any Atlanta rapper, especially those like Jeezy — one of the founding fathers of trap music — they’ll tell you strip clubs have been used as a massive platform for artists to premiere their music. For many, strip clubs are key to reaching the streets, and what better or bigger place to do so than at Magic City? According to Jeezy, this nightclub “singlehandedly broke” most — if not all — of his music.
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