[media-credit name=’NATALIE WEINBERGER/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]One of the sources of the crowds of students that flow out at "bar time" where Johnson Street crosses State Street will soon close its doors.

Stillwaters Inc. will not continue its lease at 250 State Street and will not reopen. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said owner Mike Rogers has made it clear to him that the bar will not be resurrected.

"I have been playing telephone tag with Mike for some time now," Verveer said. "In one of the messages he left me, he said there was no chance that Stillwaters would open again."

According to Verveer, the gathering of out-of-state students has become a fixture in front of Stillwaters at 2:30 a.m. on weekends for years, but he added that Rogers has been undeservedly accused as the source for the loitering phenomenon.

"It's been a campus landmark for many years," he said. "However, I think it has been unfairly blamed for the "after bar mitzvah" and that people only gather there because it has a central location on State Street."

Carol Mullins, of Mullins Apartments and landlord for the property, said she has known the owner, Mike Rogers, for some time and will miss being associated with him and his business.

"We've been friends for a very long time," Mullins said. "But, as to the reason why he is closing, I don't really know. He just told us he did not want to continue the lease."

The location on State Street, which has been home to Stillwaters for almost 30 years, holds a memory that has painted it in a dark light. In 2003, gunshots were fired through the windows of the tavern after a hip-hop show.

"There was a high profile shooting when [Mike Rogers] had experimented with hip-hop nights on Sundays," Verveer said. "Thankfully nobody was hurt and luckily for Madison, shootings like that are uncommon. However, I think that event unfairly cast a black eye on Stillwaters."

Verveer added he has known Rogers to have always run his establishment with class.

Rogers would not comment on his reason for closing. Verveer said he has not yet gotten in touch with Rogers regarding his reasoning but added the closing surprised him.

"Mike had dreams of expanding Stillwaters into the Radio Shack space," he said. "He received [Alcohol License Review Committee] approval to expand into the space, and I was surprised to never see any construction going on. Now it turns out that he's closing down."

Verveer said he is saddened that a central location on State Street is now vacant.

Mullins said the company is seeking to rent out the Stillwaters space as well as the vacant Radio Shack next door.

According to Verveer, it should not take the Mullins long to find a business to fill the space.

"I am confident that a nice establishment will fill in the space left by Stillwaters and the Radio Shack," he said. "I have heard rumors of some businesses that have shown interest in filling the space, but have not yet confirmed anything. But I'm sure that Mullins will have a long line of suitors for the area."