Kirkwood Bar & Grill Closed (Again and For Real This Time)

KIRKWOOD — It's official.

The Kirkwood Bar & Grill, the eatery that developed a reputation more for the drama it served as opposed to its meals, is closed.

It's not entirely clear when restaurateur David Johnson vacated the bar at 1963 Hosea L. Williams Dr. NE.

But he was obliged to leave the property by June 2, John Turpin, who, along with business partner, Ian Smith Jr., own the site, told East Atlanta Patch.

"They were unable to sustain their business," Turpin said Monday as he and Smith cleaned out the restaurant.

The partners, through their Southeast Holdings LLC, have begun marketing the property on Facebook to new prospective tenants.

Turpin said he wants to find a tenant that will be in keeping with the neighborhood.

"We definitely want to find somebody a lot more in line with the neighborhood," Turpin said.

When the Kirkwood Bar & Grill was in operation, it was plagued with problems ranging from repeated violations of the Kirkwood Station Homeowners Association rules and failed health inspections to lawsuits and Johnson charging the neighborhood of racism.

At one point, Johnson blamed his restaurant's troubles on what he said was a concerted effort by whites in Kirkwood to run him out because he is black.

SEE ALSO: The Kirkwood Bar & Grill topics page for full coverage.