Cat’s Cradle Shows to Benefit Staff at The Station

Cat’s Cradle will host two shows this weekend to help The Station pay its staff their final paychecks. The Station bar and club closed its doors on December 21 after nine years of bringing food, drinks and music to the Carrboro community. The adjacent restaurant, Southern Rail and the Tiger Room coffee shop, closed earlier this month.

Mike Benson is the majority owner of all three businesses.

“It’s a common story in the restaurant world, it’s an overburden of debt,” said Benson. Southern Rail Ventures LLC still owes $156,000 in back taxes, according to Chapel Hill News.

Benson originally listed Southern Rail for sale last year but was forced to put all three establishments on the market earlier this year when the tax debt became too much.

This weekend’s shows are the result of a friendship between Benson and Frank Heath, owner of Cat’s Cradle, which dates back to their days of running cross country at Chapel Hill High.

“Frank wanted to help and offered his services,” said Benson. “He said I could use his club, and I said thank you.”

The shows will feature several local bands each night. There is a $10 suggested donation and all the proceeds will benefit The Station’s staff.

In the nine years The Station was opened, it was a local hub for live music. During that time, Benson was able to form some strong relationships with those musicians.

“A lot of these musicians are like friends, they’re like family,” said Benson.

Benson also enjoyed that his establishments, with the distinctive train car building, were a fixture on the Carrboro scene.

“I think the greatest compliment I can receive is when people tell me that they can’t remember living in Carrboro before we opened,” said Benson. “And the structure over the train car seems like it has been there indefinitely and all these things and its only been nine years.”

The buildings and property are still for sale and Benson is currently in the process of meeting with potential buyers. Benson said he is advocating for another local restaurant to move into the location and he already plans on being a patron.

“I actively tell people support whoever goes in there and you’ll probably see me having a drink over there,” said Benson. “I’ll be on the other side of the bar!”

The shows will take place in the Cat’s Cradle Back Room, at 300 E. Main St. in Carrboro, starting at four o’clock both Friday and Saturday afternoons.

For tickets and more information visit the Cat’s Cradle website