Mayor Denies Liquor License For Controversial Kirkwood Bar & Grill
Community concerns factored into the decision.
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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has denied a liquor license application from the owner of the controversial Kirkwood Bar & Grill.
Reed made his decision based on neighborhood concerns, his spokeswoman, Sonji Jacobs Dade, told East Atlanta Patch.
He made the decision after "carefully considering neighborhood concerns that have been brought to him," Dade said.
Reed's decision comes after a December hearing of the city's License Review Board regarding the Kirkwood Bar & Grill alcohol permit. The board voted 2 for, 1 against and 1 abstention.
The application then went to the mayor for review.
David Johnson, owner of the bar at 1963 Hosea Williams Dr. SE, was unaware of the decision until contacted by Patch.
"I'm shocked," he said. "That's unfortunate."
Johnson said he would have no further comment until after getting official notice from the city.
The denial — a rare occurrence for liquor license applications — comes after months of an ongoing war of words between some Kirkwood residents who said Johnson repeatedly violated city codes governing his temporary liquor license and that the restaurant was a magnet for crime.
They also said he made physical and operational changes to the restaurant that were in violation of association rules at Kirkwood Station, the mixed-used condominium and retail complex where Johnson's bar is an anchor business.
Johnson had countered his opponents object to his establishment only because he is black and that a few vocal racists have been trying to run him out of Kirkwood.
Péralte Paul
5:21 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Did the mayor make the right decision on this or could there have been some compromise that would have been acceptable to both sides?
Emily Wimbush
1:04 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Mr. Johnson did not show any interest in compromise with the HOA and and continued to alienate his business neighbors and the Kirkwood community. And yes, as you reported, "They also said he made physical and operational changes to the restaurant that were in violation of association rules at Kirkwood Station, the mixed-used condominium and retail complex where Johnson's bar is an anchor business."
Chase Zabernowsky
6:29 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Very happy to hear this! The neighborhood had ample proof that this establishment was not running itself as advertised as well as many letters and emails to the Mayor's Office about their concern. The Neighbors have definitely had their voice heard.
Jonathan Blackwell
7:24 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
That place did not belong in Kirkwood
KWood Mommia
8:44 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I am proud of the dogged determination that Kirkwood Station and neighborhood association displayed in building and presenting such overwhelming evidence of misconduct by Mr. Johnson and his restaurant bait and nightclub switch. The residents of the condominiums and adjacent business owners bore the brunt of his irresponsible acts and have suffered personally and financially. I am extremely grateful for Natalyn Archibing for her support of our community. I praise Mayor Reed for seeing through the smokescreen and demonstrating true leadership in going against the grain and backing the residents of Kirkwood. The good guys won today. How refreshing!