My name is Zachary Palmer and I am the owner/proprietor of Walter's Downtown in Houston, TX. I grew up going to shows and had the fortune of being a part of something special in time, in place, and in the people involved. I've seen and held a part in generations of music enthusiasts, watching them flourish largely in part to having the right environment and the right people to drive it. I spend every day making sure I'm one of those people and that Walter's offers whatever it can. It's how I define myself and I will continue to do this until it kills me.

   I am the son of a feisty, passionate woman named Pam Robinson. Many people in and around the music scene know her name from the fourteen plus years she spent running what weirdos like me get to call home. As a young man trying to do the same thing she did I appreciate more how tenacious she really was. Beyond that, she really gave a fuck. She was a genuine woman who took on and fostered countless musicians, promoters, and patrons the like. She was open, she was honest, and she did everything she could because she cared. I'm now doing my best to make her proud and to follow her in her foot steps.

   My mother spent the last year of her life battling small-cell carcinoma. The cancer was wildly aggressive making the fight both strenuous and painful. She held on longer than anyone should have to and did it to comfort our friends and family at her side. Treatments included chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and experimental pharmaceuticals most of which at the cost of our family. She passed away in October 2014, by which time I had begun taking over and dealing with the mound of debt which Walter's had accumulated with back rent, late-filed taxes, and property taxes. Six months after the fact, we've trimmed what was roughly $37,800 in bills down to just under $20,000 (the majority of which being property taxes) while staying current with all of our incoming bills since. What we've accomplished in this time frame I find to be nothing short of amazing. It has been a period of lost sleep and large ambition, hard work and heart-ache, and large amount of determination.

   Three days ago I was served with a notice to cure the remainder of the debt by no later than April 30. These are people I admire; I feel for their situation and respect their decision to pursue this notice. Our families have became very well acquainted with each other and they have no particular interest in trying to see that we leave the building or cease working together, they simply rather see us catch up and continue to prosper. By contract, I have no other choice in the matter than to act accordingly, a feat I have faith in happening.

   As we stand now, Walter's is at an apex of our tenure at our downtown location. That coped with an upwards growth that is still being seen, we believe that with a strong community backing this goal can happen in the time it needs to. I don't have much interest in a handout; I more crave an affirmation that the people surrounding Walter's understand the importance of having a place to belong and are willing to back it. In whatever way we can I hope to offer services or incentives in exchange for capital. I know there are enough people out there to make the difference, I just hope we find them in what little time we have. Please, talk about this, talk about what was, about what is, and about what's left to come. If you have any interest in talking further please feel free to reach me at zack@waltersdowntown.com. Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Zachary Palmer