Magic City (the famous strip club in downtown Atlanta) was founded and long run by Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney, but he is no longer the legal owner today.

Quick Scoop: Who owns Magic City now?

Most recent reporting and docuseries coverage describe Barney as the founder and former owner, noting that he sold Magic City around 2018 to a buyer who has not been publicly identified by name. He is still closely associated with the brand and often appears as its public face, consultant, and storyteller, which can make it seem like he still owns it, but legally the club is reported to have changed hands.

In earlier years, after Barney’s legal troubles in the 1990s, the club was transferred within his circle (at one point to his brother‑in‑law, Derrick Cooper), showing that ownership has shifted more than once over its history. Recent coverage tied to the STARZ docuseries “Magic City: An American Fantasy” and Atlanta Hawks’ “Magic City Monday” celebrations still frame Barney primarily as the visionary founder rather than the current owner, reinforcing that distinction.

Because the current ownership entity has not been clearly named in public, on‑the‑record sources, the safest, accurate way to put it is:

  • Magic City was founded by Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney in the 1980s.
  • He later sold the club , and is now best described as its founder, former owner, and public face/consultant , not the present owner.
  • The current owner is not publicly documented by name in reliable, detailed sources, so any specific individual or company name you see online beyond this should be treated as unconfirmed.