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City closes Watusi II at 45th and Locust for back taxes

September 12, 2013

Watusi

 

The problems are continuing for the Watusi II at 45th and Locust and its owner Noel Karasanyi. The bar’s commercial activities license has been revoked for “serious tax violations,” according to a sign affixed to the building dated Sept. 11.

The business owes about $37,000 in back taxes, according to the Revenue Department website. The closing of Watusi II follows The closing of the Watusi Lounge at 46th and Walnut earlier this month due to an expired food license. Both bars are owned by Karasanyi, who has a Yeadon address listed on tax and real estate documents. Karasanyi also owns the Third World Lounge at 49th and Baltimore.

All three establishments have received complaints about late night noise and fights. Three people were shot near the Watusi Lounge on Aug. 30 and the Third World Lounge got some brief citywide publicity for its second-floor “pee pipe” that drained onto the sidewalk along 49th Street.

The Watusi II was briefly closed and put up for sale in 2012, but later taken off the market and reopened. The cease operations sign at the Watusi II lists its name as “Spider Kelly’s,” which is the name of the establishment before it was sold in 1988. It still retains that business name in city records.

19 Comments For This Post

  1. lawmom2012 Says:

    Finally. Maybe this blaggard will leave West Philly alone. Fingers crossed New Third World Lounge is the next cesspool run by this guy to be shuttered. Permanently.

  2. christina Says:

    I still need someone to explain a ‘pee pipe’ to me. I’m guessing it means that the …are there trough toilets? or…? Something isn’t draining to the sewers but, instead, out the wall? Why? Talk to me, W.Philly–you are just the sort of people who would know what a pee pipe is.

  3. Randy Says:

    A pipe sticking out of the second floor wall onto the sidewalk that drains from the urinals.

  4. helix Says:

    and this has nothing to do with “white people” or “Penntrification” or any of those resentful excuses etc . . . . this about being responsible, TAX PAYING businesses that co-exist within the entire West Philly community. just like every other tavern manages to do

    you don’t hear people bitching about any of the bars lower down on Baltimore ave do you? that’s because they’ve been good inclusive neighbors and city businesses for YEARS

    this guy has gotten away with a lot of BS

  5. lawmom2012 Says:

    It would appear there is at least one urinal on the second floor that has no actual sewer line. Just a pipe through a piece of plywood shuttering a second floor window on the 49th street side. I invite you to take a stroll down the west side of 49th between Walton and Baltimore and look to your right. There’s a stained (and fragrant) trail running from a boarded up window above your head. Et Viola! Le Pee Pipe. Nice, hunh?

  6. christina Says:

    Ah…pee pipe. Sort of what I thought, then. And I assume the reason for this is that it’s just cheaper to shunt the pee out the wall and not underground?

    Now that is a fine establishment! Add in shoot outs and it’s like a Wild West Theme Park up in there! Now WPhilly just needs an OK Corral.

    thanks for the explainin’, pardners. Howdy!

    (and lawmom, you couldn’t pay me to take a walk past that!)

  7. Alon Says:

    They should bring Spider Kelly’s back. That place sounds awesome.

  8. christina Says:

    I’m gonna buy the Watutsi and turn it into Carlos Danger’s

  9. Neighbor Says:

    Two things:

    1) In the meeting neighbors had with various city agencies about the bar a few weeks ago, we learned that the revocation of the bar’s business license would only come as a result of failure to pay liquor or business taxes, not real estate taxes. What this means is that the bar was shut down for failure to pay taxes *in excess* of the 37K quoted above. 37K is the amount owed in back real estate taxes alone.

    Notably, real estate taxes and liquor taxes go directly to funding the school district.

    2)Spider Kelly’s was an important Philly jazz bar in the mid-20th century. It was in Center City. It is my understanding that the 232. S 45th was owned by the same people who owned Spider Kelly’s, but it was never actually called that. I believe it was called the Bonfire. It’s possible I have some wires crossed here, so it would be great if somebody with more knowledge of West Philly or jazz history could fill in the blanks.

  10. Anon Says:

    He has a judgement against him for $177,406.30 city taxes from January of 2012. It’s on the civil docket. And that ladies and gentlemen is how you get candy striped for non-payment of taxes.

  11. Liz Campion Says:

    I liked the OK corral comment. Is there an address that I can send a photo of a horse trotting on the sidewalk at 46th & Woodland?

  12. Matt Says:

    This would be a great space a West Philly music venue/bar. Hope this happens

  13. Walton resident Says:

    The “pee pipe” is not over. It continues to run/ leak whenever people are at this bar. There are a ton of kids around and on this corner/block, playing directly near this pipe. How this continues is beyond me! It causes serious risk to the public!

  14. 46thst Says:

    @Matt the rest of that block is largely families with young kids and older folks. If it was a music venue it would probably have to be on the early and mellow side

  15. Anony-mouse Says:

    I think a music venue/bar would be fantastic there…Elena’s Soul had regular late night music just across the street and never seemed to cause any problems. The neighborhood could really use a good small venue; it would be a great addition.

  16. skye r Says:

    Was that place not a music venue/bar?…..Oh, right THAT kind of music venue/bar, for THOSE kinds of people……..Not “THAT” kind of music venue/bar for “THOSE” kinds of people. Can’t have “THOSE”, er THOSE kinds of people there. They should totally put a music venue/bar/tanning salon there.

  17. Kelly Says:

    new article on philly.com covering this situation.

    http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130916_It_s_unhappy_hour_at_3_W__Phila__bars.html

  18. LW Says:

    See also: Myth of a “pee pipe” at New 3rd World exposed

    http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130916_Myth_of_a__quot_pee_pipe_quot__at_New_3rd_World_exposed.html

  19. LW Says:

    That’s a headline you don’t see every day, btw.

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