In my six years of reporting on the Twin Cities nightlife scene, I have never interviewed Mike Whitelaw. Bargoers might not know the name, but he is notorious among the servers, bartenders and bouncers in the club scene. Some call him the most intimidating club owner in Minneapolis -- a tough boss and an even tougher competitor. He doesn't talk to the press.

The other day, Whitelaw called me. I was almost stunned to hear his voice on the phone.

His holdings include Club New York, Fusion and the bars formerly known as Drink (Uptown and downtown). In 2004, he opened Spin, Minneapolis' first superclub. For a time, Whitelaw, 44, was the city's most successful club owner.

Business isn't what it used to be. The Uptown Drink ("The Original Fun Bar") filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in October. Spin closed in March. And Fusion is going through its second rebranding.

But for a man whose businesses are in flux, Whitelaw sounded very confident.

"Nothing is going to happen to Drink," he told me. "It's going to go through its reorganization and pay its bills and take care of its customers."

So, the bar isn't closing. And there's no indication to say otherwise. Other big Minneapolis bars have gone through bankruptcy -- both Seven and Aqua reorganized and came out healthier.

The bankruptcy, Whitelaw said, isn't the result of slow business but the product of long and costly litigation. In January 2010, six former servers and bartenders filed a class-action lawsuit against Whitelaw, Uptown Drink and Spin. The suit accused management of altering time-clock records, as well as slapping employees with the cost of unsigned credit card receipts and register shortages. In August, a jury awarded the 700 employees a dismal $15,668. Whitelaw said the small award was a win for his defense, but now he faces a mountain of legal fees.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Steven Andrew Smith, said he doubts legal fees are the only financial hurdle afflicting Uptown Drink. "Certainly, bankruptcy is a potential option for avoiding financial obligations, but some things can't be discharged in bankruptcy," Smith said. "I think this is just the beginning of the story."

As the E! cameras rolled, Kim Kardashian partied with then-husband Kris Humphries on Labor Day weekend at the Uptown Drink. The celebrity sighting was nothing new for Whitelaw.

When Spin opened in 2004, it helped usher in a new era of VIP partying in the Twin Cities. The club was a favorite of pro athletes and celebrity hosts like Lauren Conrad and P. Diddy. Unlike rival club owners, Whitelaw has never enjoyed the spotlight, which makes him something of an enigma.

But he makes his presence known. One former bartender told me "it was a good day when he didn't yell at you." Behind the scenes, Whitelaw demanded perfection, even if it ruffled his employees. Any misstep in lighting or music could incite his wrath.

"Whether you like him or not, Mike is an incredibly smart businessman and he understands this industry," said Ben Quam, a former employee. "But I don't understand how you get anything done by screaming at people."

Whitelaw might be a tough boss, but the jury's verdict in the class-action lawsuit did not deliver a sweeping denouncement of his payment practices. His record-keeping was called into question. The jury found that Whitelaw violated minimum-wage provisions. But it also "found no unlawful deduction violations," meaning he didn't make his employees eat the cost of register shortages and unsigned receipts. Whitelaw said the plaintiffs' award (which rose to $65,994 after liquidation and state penalties) was vindication enough.

With the trial over, Whitelaw now turns his eyes to the bankruptcy. "This has been the toughest time for Mike," said sister Michelle Whitelaw, who wears many hats in his company. "There were a lot of sleepless nights."

But the party doesn't stop. Whitelaw is in the midst of renaming and possibly remodeling his two Drink locations. And this week, his other Uptown bar, Fusion, was scheduled to reopen as Social House. Whitelaw wants to give it a "new look and a new buzz," he said.

A big party is planned for December.