This summer, we posted about the state of affairs at Minneapolis-based digital shop, Atomic, formerly known as Atomic Playpen. Well, today, Yahoo has reported what we’ve been hearing since mid-July, that AP is indeed bankrupt. Now, its hosting assets have been purchased by fellow Twin Cities operation, Atomic Data (no relation), which has been sparring with AP over the use of the word “Atomic.” According to Yahoo, “The bankruptcy and purchase of assets follows a legal dispute between Atomic Data and Atomic Playpen over the use of the name ‘Atomic’, which Atomic Data has utilized for more than ten years.”
We’ve heard a few sad tales following the dissolution of the agency, which began in July (the 12th to be exact) after co-founder Troy Venjohn told his execs that he was “shutting the shop and re-organizing.” According to those in the know, orders were given at the time to “let every employee go with the exception of a couple key technology gurus.” No idea where these “gurus” are at this point, but we’ll keep checking.