By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — Whadda-Blast! could be in trouble.
Potential customers seeking a birthday party venue for their children have recently arrived at the East Washington Street indoor arcade and bounce house in downtown Rockingham to a locked door. The phone number listed on the door is disconnected.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Whadda-Blast customers have had no luck in getting their calls returned, or questions answered, by staff in recent days.
Only a white Ford Taurus is in the parking lot, but it seems not to moved from its current location in at least five months.
Paul Talley, who owns the Suede Night Club in the same building, is listed with the city of Rockingham’s tax collection office as the principal agent. That was true, Talley said when reached by phone Thursday afternoon. But he sold the business to a Rockingham woman — he didn’t say who or when — and leases the building to her.
“I’m just the landlord,” Talley said. “I have a tenant that rents it out to me. I haven’t heard anything different.”
Talley noted that a recent rent payment was late.
Lauren Turner, a city tax collector, said she had mailed information to the Rockingham business. The information seemed to require a response because Turner indicated she hadn’t yet heard back from anyone at the business.
Whadda-Blast! opened in May 2012. It’s unknown what, if any, impact the February 2013 opening of Discovery Place KIDS about 200 meters down the street had on Whadda-Blast! The nonprofit children’s museum also plays to a younger crowd and is available to rent for birthday parties and other special events.
Turner said it’s required that businesses contact the city tax office if they go out of business. She also said it’s quite common that they don’t.
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