Could the federal Small Business Association shut down Window Media as early as July 31? That’s what we’re hearing is the plan — if the gay media company can’t unload its assets, which include The Washington Blade, The Southern Voice, Express Gay News, David, Houston Voice, The South Florida Blade and 411 Magazine (Window’s The New York Blade closed last month; it has/had a stake in HX, which is being sold to Next.)
The SBA, which lent some $38 million to Window publisher David Unger’s Avalon Equity Fund to invest in gay media, is also looking into what happened to the major cash it lent in his direction, which according to a source was “diverted” into Genre — which then folded. SBA wants to know where the money is.
Recall that we already heard Unger was trying to unload Window’s titles; then Unger was kicked out by SBA (or “resigned,” as he insists). Unger’s name has already been removed from Window’s management profiles.
This SBA-mandated deadline is very problematic since we’re hearing nobody has expressed any serious interest in Window’s publications. And then there are the rumors that Unger (pictured, right) himself is being looked into for possible criminal allegations if he can’t explain the money trail.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Then again, as Queerty has proven before, sometimes “rumors” is just a coy term for “what will eventually happen.”
All this reminds of us of what a reader pointed out to us earlier this summer: The South Florida Blade was advertising office space for lease. It’s own office space. The address where there’s square footage available is the same address as the SoFlo Blade and 411‘s offices; interested parties were asked to contact the the rags for details. Yes, the Window titles are looking to sublet their space — which means the Blade snapped up more space than it needed, or it can’t afford its current lease (or knows it won’t need it moving forward). (They don’t own the building, but they do lease space there.)
We reached out to Window COO Michael Kitchens and CFO Steve Myers (both are acting co-presidents) for comment; we’ll update as needed.
Helga von ornstein
If they have to force this guy (Unger) to tell where the money is what does that tell you? This is a sad day indeed.
Once upon a time in a not too distant past a gay man in business was the pillar of any gay community across the country. We were being courted, clandestinely in most cases, to bring back vibrancy to communities. If you need any proof look at West Hollywood. The economy and the times have brought out the absolute worst and shameless and Unger is only one of many more out there who will eventually be exposed.
Not So Fast Cowboy
What would a (gay) world look like with no gay and lesbian newspapers and magazines?
Do blogs fully replace them in all respects?
James Burton
Queerty is so hateful… it is like the gay TMZ, spreading bullshit it doesn’t know to be true. If the SBA has invested all of this money, these millions of dollars, what good does closing the publications do them? They are worth more operating than they are closed; otherwise they are out of every dime they invested and it doesn’t take a financial wizard to figure that one out. Also, when I check the address under Contact on The 411’s website, it says they are located on the second floor… that tells me that there is more than one office space… the ad you posted above even says there are 44 office suites. ‘It’s own office space.’ Give me a break and get your facts straight Queerty. I thought we were all supposed to be in this together, working towards a common goal,but your site sure does love to bash other gay publications, newsites, and individuals. As I said earlier, hateful… karma is a bitch and I hope it comes full circle and bites you all in the ass!
Helga von ornstein
@Not So Fast Cowboy: I have this sinking feeling the answer is yes. When I am on the subway and see young people with earphones glued to their heads the first thing I realize is they did not buy the song at a brick and mortar store.
They downloaded the song off the internet and are sitting there in their own world going to a job that more or less cages them for 8 hours (cubicles are cages in many respects) and probably have very little social contact with their coworkers and the only things their superiors look for is production.
Tech is absolutely wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But there are many setbacks coming that are only lately (and in some cases too late) are being studied. By the time they are acted upon it will be too late.
I suspect text books might be next.
homofied
The assets secure the SBA note, which means that the SBA has given them a certain period of time to get their act together, at the end of which, if things are still not to the SBA’s liking, they will seize the assets. Seizing the assets will likely mean that a few will be snapped up and continue operating (I would guess SOVO, the Washington Blade, and a few others) but for a pittance. Real estate leases are not an easy thing to back out of. Regent Media is probably still stuck with the old leases from PlanetOut as well, and according to PlanetOut’s Annual report those were about $2 Million dollars per year. There is a glut of office space out there right now.
Jason Bell
I wonder if we will ever know if this mess is all because of lack of business experience or this was the original intention, maybe even going back 11 years ago.
MIDTOWN
I agree Jason. This was most likely what David Unger and his Avalon Equity had in mind. A business man who knows how to milk the system. Very sad.
Scott
Can you believe that David Unger was able to get out of that deal unscathed? Inquiring minds want to know if that $38M is lining his pockets and that he is laughing all the way to the bank. Sad day for gay media.
Cam
The Washington Blade used to be a fantastic paper that really covered the local area. Now all it does is reprint articles from the main office. The same articles that show up in all the other Windows Media papers. they’ll pretty much print a story as long as you fax it into them and they don’t have to try to send anybody out. It’s sad, but Metro Weekly has pretty much picked up all the slack from the Balde, i’m not really sure that the Blade will be missed in DC if it folds.
Its About Time
WOW and all this is a SURPRISE WHY????
Slime equals Unger, Unger equals bunk bed next to bernard madoff
Unger no lube there just spit. Swallow your ego !!!!!! At last your are done:)
DEEPTHROAT
@James Burton: Thank god James- you’re a bright bulb in a dim world. Wilton Executive Suites is just that, a concierge-driven boutique office space of mostly small offices. I’ve been to the building and have visited the 411 Magazine/SoFlo Blade offices. They are still there, and the Wilton Executive Suites are actively advertising for tenants on the first floor. 411/Blade are on the 2nd floor where I sometimes go to get my copies. The 411 is usually bigger than their immediate competitor, and the Blade has been really good of late, with good honest local reporting. I truly hope and prey they survive. Because without them, we will be left with the rather weak Hotspots.
As far as the SBA is concerned, where would one get that kind of information, Queerty? Your yellow journalism is remarkable. Sight some facts or sources.
And why the hell is Jason Bell weighing in on this? Aren’t you dead yet?
Jason Bell
Hi Deep Throat – whoever you are…did I touch on a nerve and upset you?
Don’t you always feel that when someone doesn’t use their real name, they are hiding something? What are you hiding?
The SBA info has been talked about among gay publishers for years, where have you been? Look at the law suits filed years ago against Window Media.
And why would you walk down the street in Wilton Manors, past several gay businesses in all directions, that carry all the gay magazines, enter an office building, go upstairs into 411’s offices to pick-up a magazine, there is plenty of them laying all over.
After 22 years, I haven’t owned Hotspots Magazine for a year and a half, but I can tell you the new owner Peter Clark, owns his own building that includes additional rental space, unlike 411.
Maybe if 411 didn’t run 30 pages of little boys in underwear pictures, they wouldn’t be in the trouble they are in. So don’t imply 411 is doing better than Hotspots, by counting pages, count the paid ads.
PS, Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have any plans on dying for at least 50+ years from now. Maybe your someone that owes me money? Either way, you sound like a very bitter person. Go have a cocktail before your brain explodes.
Mike Barton
@DEEPTHROAT: I agree with you on three points: You’re right about the description of the property; Queerty’s reporting has recently become inflammatory and, at times, obnoxious; and I don’t really care a lot for Jason Bell. Otherwise:
The phone number in the ads is for one of 411’s staff members and not the owners or property management of Wilton Executive Suites. Unless Window Media has branched out into real estate I think Queerty is spot on.
Queerty has at least investigated and learned the truth, the truth that fits in with 411’s widely known problems with payroll (which has come firsthand from their employees) and other vendors.
You’re asking them to sight facts or sources – they see facts and they’re citing them by reporting them and, if you follow the story back, they have cited sources for the SBA data. Would you care to challenge other gay media that have reported on this story, too? Queerty is not alone.
It’s interesting that you claim to know that the advertisement is seeking tenants on the first floor. How would you know that? The ad doesn’t say that. Wilton Executive Suites may still have vacancies on the first floor but, again, why would 411 be the point of contact for those?
Preying and praying are two entirely different things.
Finally, “And why the hell is Jason Bell weighing in on this? Aren’t you dead yet?” He’s entitled to his opinion and it has value because of his experience in the business and familiarity with some of the people involved. He has an interest in topic and by allowing comments Queerty is soliciting them. “Aren’t you dead yet?” is just tacky. That’s wishful thinking on your part and this is not about your fantasies. Those are best kept to yourself.
Its About Time
Good to see that Hot Spots was smart enough to stay far away from Windows “we screw everything up” Media. I recently saw a copy of both and agree. Look at the ads, better yet look at what 411 charges for there ads, FIRE sales all the time. I have said it before the economy has nothing to do with the failure of windows, its the idiots that ran it. It’s a sad day in gay media to see just what they have done to so many great publications and to so many good people. there are magazines and papers that are managing
thru these bad times. Best of luck to them.
Observer
@Jason Bell: I’ll come right out with it. I believe you.
Can you please answer this pestering question I have. If Queerty were to print unsubstantiated reports wouldn’t that open them up to a lawsuit for slander or something along those lines?
Jason Bell
I believe I hold the title as being the sole gay publisher of the same publication for the longest time, and not an adviser on law.
Republishing anything, even from CNN or AP, that is found to be invalid, also exposes those that republished it. You need to show that you made an attempt to verify the information to the best of your ability.
Queerty published the wrong names of titles being published by Window Media in the above story, all of those titles are not being published or are duplicates.
The new offices 411 moved to recently (that are in question in the above story) are “high-profile” and just another part of the downfall of the company. It’s been funny watching Window build this inverted pyramid teetering back and forth on Ungers shoulders just waiting to fall over and crash. The bigger the pyramid the bigger the crash.
Who knows who did what and when going all the way back to William Waybegone and Chris Cain and/or Avalon. It’s possible that Avalon inherited some of this and then continued, or Avalon did it and maybe that’s why Waybegone and Cain left?. Will anyone really ever know?
As far as Unger being gone: I don’t think I have meet Steve Meyers, but I would advise Michael Kitchens to be careful, who I meet years ago when I published in Atlanta and think he is an OK guy. The personal exposure and legal ramifications could be endless.
The Window Media payroll problems have been widely talked about on the streets here in South Florida. To fully understand you need to follow all of the players from the start of Window Media years ago. I feel I have considerable history on Window Media and feel based upon what I know Queerty’s story is valid.
Keith
WOW….fire sale for ad space??? Seems whatever price 411 gives, Hotspots comes in and offers an ad for $5 to $10 less.
Seems like everyone has a theory… anyone called the number in the office space ad?
I did…its a referral type service, the person at 411 takes your name and number, and then the Executive Suites people call you back to set up an appointment to show you office space.
DEEPTHROAT
@Keith: Thank you Keith. That makes perfect sense. Then the Executive Suites people could track the incoming calls to their advertisement. I’ve done that with my two incoming lines to track.
And I’ve gone to the offices for copies later in the week when they are typically gone from the stores. It’s very convenient.
I don’t know what the pricing is, but there do not seem to be too many advertisers in both magazines, so that theory doesn’t wash with me from a business standpoint. I can’t imagine that $5 or $10 would sway that many decisions.
And why does Jason Bell care so much?
As a reader, I never liked the way Hotspots used beat up the local businesses with such viciousness. Thankfully, the new owner doesn’t do that.
And again, as a reader, I was quite happy to hear that Mr. Bell had, I heard, retired, and the community would not have to endure his negativity. Apparently, that is not the case. I kinda wish you didn’t use your real name. It’s like a foul pill that refuses to be swallowed. [As for me- I don’t use my real name on any blogs on the internet. It’s old school, but I’m not going there, and there is no reason to. Again, Mr. Bell likes to put his name on trashing other businesses as he did when he had the magazine].
And I just found Mr. Bell’s coverage of the community rude and obnoxious, when he was running Hotspots. And apparently, so did others, when they tried to beat him at his own game. I remember Scoop and Buzz gave Hotspots some appreciated competition, and 411 seems to have done well in that regard. It’s too bad that the parent company may be a financial problem for 411. Cover for cover, I, and friends and colleagues, find 411 to be a better magazine overall. That’s subjective, but it’s what I’ve experienced.
Moving the offices to Wilton Manors makes good sense. It puts the publication front and center in the community. Why wouldn’t they or anyone else not want to do that. There timing may suck financially, but it makes sense from a marketing view. I have no idea where the Hotspots office is, though they would certainly like to be in Wilton Manors, I’m sure. Perhaps they could get a bigger bench ad.
Jason Bell
You have made it clear that you work for 411 and thank you for the huge compliment pointing out that my business decisions were better then the other magazines that failed.
Also thanks for reading Hotspots each week (when I owned it) so you could keep up with the negativity. I’m sure the new owner of Hotspots is glad your happier now. But lately I feel like a small “negativity guy” next to all these Window Media people and you “deepthroat”.
Now, back to the topic. Business do all kinds of things to make money, and there are no friends in business, if you think that your a fool. Maybe this is Window Media’s version of bankruptcy. A second business that doesn’t make any money gives you the loss you need to help with the gains of the other businesses you own.
Because the trendy thing to do these days is file for bankruptcy (or today’s word “bailout”) maybe Window Media is attempting to erasing all their debt of the money they “borrowed” and just like the airlines a few years ago and now GM “starting-over” using other peoples money.
Isn’t that the reason why Window Media started Unite Media several years ago? Wasn’t it reported that WM couldn’t get any more SBA loans, so they started another corp to continue getting more money? Didn’t Gay City News exposed all of this years ago?
DEEPTHROAT
Sorry, but I don’t work there. And if the bailout works, so be it. As you say, it is trendy now.
Did I just agree with Bell? OMG
DEEPTHROAT
And you got my curiosity up re Mr. Clark owning the building. According to Broward County Appraisors website, Venice Quarters, Inc (presumably Peter Clark, from that website’s info) purchased the property in 2007 for $1,465,000. I assume he didn’t pay cash. You made a tidy sum on that deal!! Congratulations.
Rendall Hall
Have to agree with Deep. Bell’s Hotspots sucked big time.
Richard Hughes
Where and why dont you do a little research, the 411 offices are in an office building using the SECOND floor, the first floor is what the owner of the property is trying to lease out. I know this as a FACT, quit trying to destroy or abide others in their quest to hurt a company and their employees.
William Iannarelli
Scoop was NEVER any competition for Hotspots, or anyone for the matter. In fact, we were always happy to have Scoop as the 2nd or 3rd Magazine because they were a big zero as a competitor.
Working for Jason Bell from 1995-2008, I can say that I know him better than most people. Whether or not you agree with his approach or his opinions, you can not deny that Hotspots Magazine was always the finest quality publication of it’s sort anywhere in the USA. I have been in gay bars in every major city in the USA and Europe and I have never seen anything that rivaled it. Frankly, South Florida has no idea what they have in HOTSPOTS.
I CAN attest to the fact that what Jason Bell would say in print was almost ALWAYS true – even if whoever he was writing about did not want you to know. He would never say it without a lot of proof. One should not shoot the messenger. Keep in mind, it was all about selling magazines and keeping it interesting.
Jason was always the first to report about the MANY incidents of fraud within the gay community. Let me tell you: I can cite 25 examples of people who stole the treasury they were entrusted with. If Jason did not write about it the community would not know.
Re: 411 and their various parental owners; for example: I can tell you having competed with them that the owners were NEVER concerned with making a profit. It was very strange. I can remember piles and piles of payments from advertisers that were not picked up. I always wondered WHY. Now it is obvious with the $38 Million explanation. This was always rather obvious.
William
MICHAEL KLEMIER
I AGREE WITH JASON BELL, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE, AT LEAST WHEN JASON BELL WAS THE OWNER OF HOTSPOTS MAGAZINE THE BILLS WAS PAID, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW ABOUT PETER CLARK THE NEW OWNER… HE IS NOT PAYING HIS BILLS. IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME JUST ASK THE FORMER ONWER OF LATINO BOYS MAGAZINE AND HE WILL TELL YOU MORE. THIS ACTION JUST SHOWS THAT HOTSPOTS IS NOT DOING WELL EATHER, BECAUSE IF IT WAS HE WILL BE PAYING HIS BILLS.
ANYWAY,…..
Rick
@MICHAEL KLEMIER: Your post is spreading information that is false. Peter Clark’s credit is perfect and can be verified by purchasing a credit report through Dun & Bradstreet if you’d care to verify it. Be assured that the former owner of Latino Boys Magazine will be contacted and advised to cease spreading false information. If he is claiming that he is owed money it is untrue and there are legal documents that prove he is owed nothing.
Jason
MICHAEL KLEMIER – thanks for the comments – who are you?
RICK – credit reports only show you the reported problems, never the entire picture. What’s going on here?
KENNEDY
That’s true.
I used to play with a guy that worked at Hotspots [Advertising sales] and he told me about the deal between the new owner, whatever his name is, and the former owner Jason Bell, for what I understand if the new owner don’t make a payment to Mr. Bell till November 2010, Hotspots office can get the locks changed by Jason and good bye Hotspots Magazine.
Any input???
SEAN PICCOLI
Oops: Adult film actors appear with Connie Francis
> Posted by Admin on February 2, 2010 11:58 AM
By Sean Piccoli
Sun Sentinel
A group of porn actors who arrived on the arm of entertainer Connie Francis on Friday to help Fort Lauderdale promote an upcoming beach party were not hired for the occasion by the city, Mayor Jack Seiler said.
Connie Francis, star of the movie “Where The Boys Are,” appears on Fort Lauderdale Beach to mark the 50th anniversary of the film. (Sun Sentinel Photo / Mike Stocker)
The four models, working for a Fort Lauderdale-based talent agency, attended the press conference as escorts for Francis, the singing actress who first came to Fort Lauderdale to film “Where the Boys Are,” a 1960 movie about college students on Spring Break. Francis and her hit song of the same name have become iconic touchstones for the gay community.
The Memorial Day weekend festival, to be called “Connie Francis’ Great American Beach Party,” will commemorate the movie’s 50th anniversary in an event that Seiler said would consist of “good old-fashioned family fun.”
Seiler said the city was not involved in selecting the models and no taxpayer money was spent on the press conference.
“We didn’t have anything to do with her entourage,” Seiler said Monday.
John McLaughlin, a spokesman for Francis, said he organized the press conference and sought out models for the event through “Hot Spots,” a publication that serves South Florida’s gay community.
“Hot Spots” publisher Peter Clark said he called Howard Marr of FabScout, a Fort Lauderdale-based talent agency that sent the four models to the event.
“We contacted Howard and asked for anyone,” he said. “I don’t care about their backgrounds and I didn’t specifically ask for anyone of any notoriety.”
Marr said, “All four guys are gay porn actors,” and declined to comment further.
McLaughlin and Seiler both said they were not aware that the models had appeared in gay porn films. But Seiler said he avoided having his picture taken with the men after a city staffer alerted him.
The mayor said he knew Francis was going to arrive with a bunch of guys, but, “We thought they were going to be in their 60s.”
Francis, in an interview on Tuesday, said she found out about her escorts’ adult-film resumes almost as soon as she met them in their bathing trunks at the Bahia Mar resort hotel, shortly before the press confrence.
After the introductions, Francis said her hairdresser— who recognized the models — pulled her aside and said, “These four guys are porno stars.”
She kept that information to herself and didn’t even tell McLaughlin, her publicist and the press conference’s organizer, “because for me it wasn’t that important,” she said.
Francis said she would not have chosen adult-movie performers for the occasion but added, “I can’t hurt their feelings. … Everybody’s gotta earn a living.”
She counted herself as amused by the episode. “It’s a funny story. … Nothing ever happens normally in my life,” she said.
Adeilson Jorge
Rick, It’s so funny that no one at Hotspots have balls to contact me to talk about this situation. Mr.Peter Clark send me text message that i still have saved on my phone about this posting here on this blog, accusing me to write comments here. I m not the kind of men that write under someone else name or sent text message like a little girl. I have balls to get on the phone and make a phone call to speak to someone about what is up, different than you and your boss. so shut your damn mouth and see the facts. And if someone really want to know what happen call me, and i have no problem to say with all the words what REALLY happen between me[ Adeilson Jorge] and Hotspots Magazine[ Peter Clark].I left Latino Boys Magazine with my name clean in the community and you can ask anyone around if i own a penny to anyone. My personal opnion and you don’t have to agree with me is that i feel robbed, I m a men that don’t a paper signed or contract to know my obrigations,My father told me how to be a men and keep up my promess and obrigations, I come from a family that pay bills, not like others that try all things possible to keep someone moneys.
So that’s how i fell about it, and there is no crime to let it out.
Adeilson Jorge
When i received the letter from your office, I call Peter, did he answer? did he called me back? that was almost a year ago. I still didnt hear from him, only text messages…..