Neighborhood fights for city to deny restaurant its liquor license. Owner pouts on Twitter.
UPDATE (Jan. 30, 2012): Kirkwood Bar & Grill’s liquor license application denied by Mayor
Remember David Johnson, the restaurateur who recently reopened Kirkwood Public House as Kirkwood Bar and Grill?
No? We’re not surprised. Let’s refresh your memory on some background:
- Johnson purchased the shuttered Kirkwood Public House.
- The neighborhood freaked out when they found out it would reopen as “VIP Sports Bar and Lounge,” as reported by the Atlanta Business Chronicle (ABC).
- Johnson blamed one the ABC’s longtime journalists for fabricating his new restaurant’s name.
- Johnson wised up and renamed it Kirkwood Bar and Grille before it opened.
But it gets better: the restaurant wasn’t ever called “VIP Sports Bar and Lounge” but that’s what it turned into, according to several Kirkwood associations. And the neighborhood is pissed. So much so that they’re trying to force the restaurant to close.
Many Kirkwood residents emailed What Now Atlanta after the Atlanta Licensing Review Board (LRB) voted Tuesday to re-approve the restaurant’s liquor license. Here’s a video of Tuesday’s meeting (starts at minute 1:06:15).
The LRB was forced into this vote after several Kirkwood community organizations rallied to approach them to deny Johnson’s application for his liquor license.
“Mr. Johnson completely misrepresented his business and is running a VIP style night club,” one What Now Atlanta reader said in an email Thursday. “He’s driven the neighbors crazy with alcohol promotions, live radio feeds, noise at all hours, drug busts and gun fire.”
The Kirkwood community has now appealed this decision to the Mayor’s office.
Meantime, Johnson shared some choice words about the neighborhood associations on his now protected Twitter account:
What Now Atlanta called Johnson for comment but he denied us an interview (even though he called us to say we couldn’t talk to him).
Total Johnson, right?
So, are Kirkwood residents racist or does Johnson need to read E-How’s, How to open a Bar and Grill? Tell us in the comments!
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67 Responses
I’m sick of people using the race card. Of course there are racists out there, but as a whole this issue isn’t race it’s THUG. No one wants thug of any color. And yes, thug comes in every color.
Think we’ve found the spiritual twin of the ex-owner of Bobby G’s Lindbergh. They should open a business together. It’d make a great sitcom or reality show.
The real idiots here are the ones who fall for the whole VIP scam. I’m going to start charging people $20 to get in Club Port-o-Pottie. There will be a line around the block to get in even if there is no one actually in the club. Heck, I’ll even sell shirts with “I throw money away in front of others to pretend I have lots of it when I really don’t understand its value” on them.
There is no race issue here. The fact remains that when the lease agreement was entered into, there were covenants regarding opening times that were flouted within a very short time or the bar opening. This is the beef that the residents have with Kirkwood bar and grill, not the fact that black people are having a good time. If the residents of Kirkwood were that racist, they would live in the predominantly white suburbs surely?
To accuse a concerned neighborhood association of being racially motivated in their opposition to a liquor license is to try and divert attention from the real issue – the bar is not being used for its agreed purpose and that is the reason for the opposition.
I always get a kick out of how people use the term “VIP” in Atlanta – like sitting in a booth with a little velvet rope around it makes you special. The even funnier thing is that most people who entertain themselves as “VIPs”, are the people who spent a month or two saving up, so they could go out and buy that new rhinestone-infested rag at the mall, and be able to pay for the 1 bottle of Absolute that they split amongst their 6 friends. I’m not sure what actually qualifies someone as a “VIP”, but I’m pretty sure that being a back-office analyst with a new affliction t-shirt isn’t it. It’s even funnier that this notion of “VIP” would exist in a sports bar. Stay classy Atlanta.
where there is demand there will be supply but what a douche. With all the talk of ‘community’ this guy is all about hurting his community for personal gain and then redefining the neighborhood protests as a black vs. white issue. Could there be more of an evil nature?
I watched the entire video, and the owner, David Johnson told outright lies, specifically regarding his promotions – I personally have seen posters, tweets and FB posts advertising “2-for-1 Tuesdays” (note, drink specials like that are illegal in Atlanta), “ladies drink free ’til 10”, and “hottest black dress wins $100.” Yet, he’s a restaurant?
It was hilarious when the owner talked for a while about being a restaurant, then admitted that he had security inside and off-duty APD outside his establishment. To their credit, the LRB immediately asked “why does a restaurant need security?”, but somehow Johnson managed to blame the HOA for the security.
The guy seems nice enough, but unfortunately, he’s turned downtown Kirkwood into a mini-freaknik, complete with throngs of patrons “tailgating” across the street and blocking the street while people are just trying to drive through on Hosea. I can’t imagine being the poor folks living in Kirkwood Station having to deal with this nonsense.
Another fact that was not able to be introduced (b/c of the “address” of KB&G being shared with several other businesses – mind you, that all close @ 5:00), was that there have been 5 felony arrests at that location (or immediate vicinity) in the 90 days that it has been opened. As Mr. Williamson indicated, these stats were provided by the zone 6 commander, but again, were techincally inadmissable.
He’ll get his permit back, but he’ll get shut down quick if he makes one small mis-step (or if one of his patrons does).
The fact that Mr. Johnson pulls race into this only shows me that he is the one who is the racist. And because he has no good argument to support being open late he turns to this. How sad, sir.
The only issue on the table is that people live in that building. People that paid a lot of money to own a town home in Kirkwood. And them having to hear loud partying during late hours when they are trying to get sleep before work.
It could be white, black, green, purple people down there. Noise has no color!
“Mr. Johnson completely misrepresented his business and is running a VIP style night club,” one What Now Atlanta reader said in an email Thursday. “He’s driven the neighbors crazy with alcohol promotions, live radio feeds, noise at all hours, drug busts and gun fire.”
“…he’s turned downtown Kirkwood into a mini-freaknik,”
“…there have been 5 felony arrests at that location (or immediate vicinity) in the 90 days that it has been opened.”
Wash, rinse, repeat in any intown Atlanta neighborhood full of decent, hard-working people that gets infested with ghetto termites. Welcome to Castleberry Hill’s life, Kirkwood!
Urbanist, all of the things you act like are specific to Atlanta happen in all cities. You have herd of the bridge and tunnel crowd in NYC right? The element of faux wealth and all that goes with it is everywhere. I’m beginning to think you haven’t been around as much as you claim.
“The even funnier thing is that most people who entertain themselves as “VIPs”, are the people who spent a month or two saving up…”
Saving up my a**, they just steal and sell weed to make money.
How does Mr. Johnson explain the success of Petite Marche. A black owned restaurant which is thriving less than 100 feet away?
@Kourtney
“Saving up my a**, they just steal and sell weed to make money.”
That’s essentially true. But part of that goes to bullets.
@ JT – I’m well aware of the bridge and tunnel crowd – they’re eerily similar to Atlanta’s club crowd – except in Atlanta it’s the 575 crowd. Are you aware that the Bridge & Tunnel crowd don’t get into the nightclubs that are worth getting into – i.e. the one’s who’s patrons don’t give two sheets whether or not they are called “VIPs” or not? The catch-22 of the whole situation is that those who covet the “VIP” tag, are in fact, not.
The things I act like are specific to Atlanta happen in all cities – not entirely accurate. They happen in all cities that don’t have a decent presence of urban dwellers. Atlanta’s club scene is probably similar to that of Kansas City, or maybe Houston, etc. It’s nothing like that of cities that can truthfully call themselves cities. In the cities that can truthfully claim that, of course they’ll have a segment of this, but they’ll also provide a lot of other, better, options. As far as Atlanta is concerned – everything that claims to be exclusive is everything but.
Yeah, Kirkwood hates black owned businesses. That’s why we pack his neighbor (and black owned), Le Petite Marche, to capacity every weekend, which is now one of the best breakfast places in Atlanta according to Yelp.
This has nothing to do with race. This has everything to do with a disrespectful and manipulative owner that has destroyed the character of Kirkwood Station and the surroundings in a few short months. I cannot wait until he is finally run out of the neighborhood for good.
By the way, everything he says to the LRB is false. He has DJs, live entertainment, and a “club” atmosphere most nights until 2:00 in the morning. There are flyers and Twitter posts to prove it. Also, he claims that only 3 of the 30+ 911 calls in the past 3 months are for his restaurant, and that’s only because the 911 log has “1963 Hosea Williams Dr” as the address, which is the address for the entire Kirkwood Station complex. So, you’re telling me that a breakfast place, a flower shop, a salon, a dance studio, and condos with working professionals (black, white, asian, straight, gay, etc.) are the cause of the other 30+ calls? Wow, you must think we’re racist and dumb!!!!
urbanist – please move
What a buffoon. I can’t wait until he either closes up, or gets his @$$ taken to court and then closes up!!!
I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt when it opened. I was excited to have a sports bar in the area, and tried it out twice. I knew this wasn’t the place for us when my wife and I were frisked at the door by security, and when I had the Tyson frozen chicken fingers as my dinner… ugh, that place is an embarrassment.
I’m a resident of Kirkwood Station. I started sleeping with earplugs since KWB&G opened under new ownership. The restaurant remains open until 2 AM, and patrons talk loudly until 3 or 4 AM on the sidewalks and in the Spades Kountry Kooking parking lot across the street. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s annoying to hear rowdy drunk chatter into the early morning hours.
When the restaurant Vinocity occupied the space, it would stay open late as well. However, it seemed that patrons left sooner and did not spend as much time talking on the street. As a resident, I think it’s awesome that KWB&G is generating so much business, but the noise is pretty bad.
P.S. I see some comments about felony arrests and drug busts. I would like to see police statistics for this address under the KWB&G era, compared to previous restaurants.
You’re about a month late with this “scoop.” http://www.danablankenhorn.com/2011/07/bye-bye-kirkwood-bar-grill-.html
Dana you said it best…”you don’t put a nightclub open until 2 AM under a residential window. That’s just stupid. Bye-bye, Kirkwood Bar & Grill.”
If the Mayor Reed approves this liquor license he will commit polital suicide! Kirkwood will not allow him to step foot in our community again without being called out.
There is NO community support for Kirkwood Bar and Grill. David Johnson totally misrepresented his business model and is trying to operate a niteclub open until 2am next to a childs bedroom. Kirkwood Bar and Grill looks more like a strip club from the outside than a restaurant. Oh, and did you know that on August 5th David Johnson received a Zoning Violation Correction Notice for the illegal reflective film he installed on all the windows. It’s illegal! He has until the end of day August 19th to have it removed. If you don’t believe me, feel free to call Chief; Ann Heard at 404-330-6239 to check on the status.
Seems Dana Blanenhorn doesn’t seem to think it’s important that they did get their licence and the problem is still here. Self promoting a homer blog is sad. Saying bye bye Kirkwood Bar and Grille doesn’t make it happen.
I find it funny that they complain about us being racist when they are the ones segregating themselves with black only bars.
Why can’t we all just get along already??
As soon as I saw a bouncer standing in the doorway I knew it wasn’t a good thing and it broke my heart a little, Kirkwood seemed to be progressing so nicely. If this place stays open it is going to set it back for sure and if it gets it’s liquor license say bye bye to any sort of safety there was in Kirkwood and hello sirens.
This is NOT a race issue (so knock that shit off already–stop living in the past!) it’s a “we want Kirkwood to be a safe and classy place to live” issue.
To all you who just want a nice, quiet place to go, the Arizona Pub is only a stones throw away on Arizona.
Kirkwood station please sit down and get a life you can’t blame the drugs, traffic, noise and altercations on KBG it was going on long before it even opened. Spades is open across the street way later than KBG but you want him to be responsible for them and their goings on also come on get a grip run on back to the suburbs like you did years ago when Kirkwood was considered the hood…you’ll want to come back remodel and build some high price houses and condos and think because of that you are the new buckhead please it doesnt work like that all these issues were going on when you left and have never stopped so now that you back its supposed to come to a halt I dont think so. Security was placed at the bar to try and please you’ll bratty complaining neighbors but it’s way deeper than that and the race card is definitely a factor here because when Velocity was there it wasn’t a problem to the “whites” because thats who they catered to while making “Blacks” feel uncomfortable KBG doesn’t even do this I’ve seen plenty of “whites” in this place enjoying themselves and also praising the place. Before moving into a eat, work, live and play community do your research to see what all zoning is allowed pack your bags and get to stepping or swing on by KBG I’m sure you’ll enjoy the “Kitchen Sink” I know I do and can’t wait till the mayor signs off on the liquor license to get one!!!
I could’ve sworn that Kirkwood/Old Fourth ward and Castleberry Hill were all Black neighborhoods before they were forced out,So why bitch? No one bitches at the all whites in Virginia Highland when they are hanging out.
If the mayor approves KBG’s liquor license and David Johnson continues to operate his business as he has thus far (which I fully expect he will), I think everyone opposed to this business should organize sit-ins to shut it down.
I just went back to a March blog about KBG and these people were damning KBG before they even opened their doors ,posting 2 of the post below, and it was predominately “Black before they were forced out so you people run on back to the suburbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! scoleman March 18, 2011 at 2:14 pm # I’LL SAY IT SINCE NO ONE ELSE IS: Kirkwood is afraid of a bunch of blacks invading their neighborhood. “Dantana’s, Compound and Strip” are all places frequented by blacks and you don’t want to deal with “crime, cruising, spinning rims and velvet ropes…” as one one member of the listserv posted. You, with your double-wide strollers, Subaru’s and starter homes, relax and stop being so fearful that the neighborhood is going up in flames because a business may (or may not) attract people who don’t look like you. It’s 2011!!!!!!!! You should be ashamed.
Jenny Napier March 22, 2011 at 11:09 am # Scoleman and Tim Glademan-
I am glad that someone finally said it. It is shameful and ridiculous what people are saying. I am frankly embarrassed to walk down the street and think that people are looking at me thinking I may have made those comments. I moved to Kirkwood in a hope to find a diverse and friendly neighborhood with a wide variety of eating establishments and it is just a bunch of suburbanites wanting to turn it into Alpharetta. I am not sure why you moved to this part of town if you are so afraid of people of different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. Perhaps you thought the price of your flipped house would eventually run out the ones you are talking aobut?? There is a private Kirkwood message board where apparently they really air their fear/hatred for certain people. It looks like they sit in their houses at night with the lights out peering out their windows with 9-1- already dialed on their phones waiting for an excuse to push the other 1. I am happy that something is moving in that spot- frankly I was angry about hearing about a vegan bakery moving in- that is way more restricted than a VIP lounge IMO.(oh and btw- Spades has great food at a great and is family friendly and is run by some of the nicest people i have ever met- i would like to know if the commenters above have tried it)
@Evie I think I’ll go ahead and contact Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton because we are no longer in slavery and are free to open businesses and live ANYWHERE we want to move further north if you got this serious of a issue, Kirkwood is not the place for you with or without KBG, Kirkwood will still have drugs, guns, burgleries and altercations but I guess you’ll want to blame the worlds issues on KBG too!!!!!!!!!!!
@KWD Business Owner—- Strip club from the outside???? You must’ve lost your husband/wife to the strip club life it doesn’t look like any strip club I’ve ever been in…sports bar yes. He actually has ALOT of support maybe just not all “whites” support and he definitely has all or 98% of “blacks” support its the best thing that ever happened in Kirkwood tuck your little tail hater and run on back to the burbs!!!!!!!!!!
They gonna have sit ins? Why because it’s a black owned business? To compare this with the civil rights struggle is an insult to all African Americans.
The ghetto element continues to try and ruin this city but they will not win. Atlanta has so much potential that is squandered by these nasty people.
This is not about the black race, this about a part of black culture that ruins everything it touches.
@LadyLove
“I find it funny that they complain about us being racist when they are the ones segregating themselves with black only bars.”
Ghetto trash will use every tool at their disposal to be able to keep “gettin’ dere drink on.” They’ll toss out the race card at the same time they’re selling weed and shooting a fellow thug on your front lawn. Don’t look for consistency and logic; there is none.
“As soon as I saw a bouncer standing in the doorway I knew it wasn’t a good thing and it broke my heart a little,”
Every ghetto trash club needs a bouncer. Why is that? Oh, because they’re violent pieces of garbage, sociopaths and have non respect for anything that might interrupt their illegal activities.
“If this place stays open it is going to set it back for sure and if it gets it’s liquor license say bye bye to any sort of safety there was in Kirkwood and hello sirens.”
It’s inevitable. The turd touch strikes again.
“This is NOT a race issue (so knock that shit off already–stop living in the past!) it’s a “we want Kirkwood to be a safe and classy place to live” issue.”
You seem to get it, LadyLove. It’s about low-life ghetto trash, not race. But be quiet or you’ll spoil the excuse for all of their destructive behavior.
@George Bush
“I could’ve sworn that Kirkwood/Old Fourth ward and Castleberry Hill were all Black neighborhoods before they were forced out,So why bitch? No one bitches at the all whites in Virginia Highland when they are hanging out.”
Wow, you are as ignorant and ill-informed as you are trashy.
Castleberry Hill wasn’t any race’s neighborhood; it was a bunch of empty warehouses. Now crackheads and ghetto hookers once pedaled their illegal wares along the streets, but that would hardly make it their neighborhood.
Don’t worry. Ghetto garbage, like the worthless termites you are, have found a way to trash the whole neighborhood without owning any property, tearing down property values for those of us who have worked for years to make this neighborhood something special and skyrocketing crime levels. Carjackings, muggings and even murder 9there’s a blood stain on the sidewalk across the street). Pure garbage; that’s what you are.
“No one bitches at the all whites in Virginia Highland when they are hanging out.”
Because they don’t shoot people, steal everything they see and bring down property values. It’s not that hard to figure out.
@Charlotte Thomas
“Security was placed at the bar to try and please you’ll bratty complaining neighbors”
Why is security needed at a neighborhood pub? Answer, that. Why? You act like they’re doing these decent people who live in that neighborhood a favor by providing security, while you fail to address why idiot ghetto people bring guns to “da club” and why security is needed in the first place.
You’ve just proven what racist trash you are, which reflects the who-cares-let’s-destroy-everything-the-white-devils-have-built attitude of hood trash in Atlanta.
“There is a private Kirkwood message board where apparently they really air their fear/hatred for certain people.”
Can you blame them? Gunshots started going off once the ghetto crowd arrived. Who wouldn’t complain? I assume you’re a top topic of conversation on that board, being a racist ghetto trash enabler who hates white people.
“I’ve seen plenty of “whites” in this place ”
Sounds like trouble. Those “whites” are always messing things up, increasing property values and cleaning up vile ghetto neighborhoods. By the way, why is “whites” in quotes? Are you unsure if they’re white? or is it just that ghetto elitism at work, creating nothing and only destroying?
“can’t wait till the mayor signs off on the liquor license”
More ghetto words were never spoken. Maybe they’ll provide day care as well.
“Kirkwood is afraid of a bunch of blacks invading their neighborhood.”
No, they’re afraid of ghetto garbage invading their neighborhoods. They’re is a difference. There appears to be no difference between you and ghetto trash, though. Ergo, you must be the scourge of the neighborhood.
“I am frankly embarrassed to walk down the street”
You should be.
“I moved to Kirkwood in a hope to find a diverse and friendly neighborhood ”
Then why do you only support ghetto garbage? That’s not diversity. That’s stupid.
“I am not sure why you moved to this part of town if you are so afraid of people of different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc.”
No just filthy ghetto criminals. Quit confusing the two.
“Perhaps you thought the price of your flipped house”
No worries. Hood garbage has destroyed that.
“It looks like they sit in their houses at night with the lights out peering out their windows with 9-1- already dialed on their phones waiting for an excuse to push the other 1. ”
It appears there are some very smart people in Kirkwood who refuse to let their neighborhood be destroyed by the criminal, ghetto element that has ruined Buckhead, Lindbergh, Castleberry Hill and countless other areas. Kudos to you all. Don’t hesitate to press that final “1.”
“frankly I was angry about hearing about a vegan bakery moving in”
Oh, I’m sure. I mean, why couldn’t another artery-clogging Mrs. Winners, or, better yet, an athletic shoe store or a convenience store that sells wife beaters and do rags. Now that’s a business a neighborhood can be proud of.
“I think I’ll go ahead and contact Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton because we are no longer in slavery and are free to open businesses and live ANYWHERE we want to move further north if you got this serious of a issue,”
Ghetto reflex response: when people get tired of your criminal, destructive hood behavior, threaten to call Sharpton and Jesse. You’re as reliable as a broken clock, only less useful.
BTW, the minute you mention “slavery” you lose all credibility. Ghetto garbage shooting up a neighborhood, police arresting people for drugs, violence and worse, has nothing to do with the horror of slavery. You an absolute embarrassment. Go hang your head in shame.
“Kirkwood is not the place for you with or without KBG, Kirkwood will still have drugs, guns, burgleries and altercations”
No it won’t. If they get rid of the ghetto catnip of “da club,” property values will rise, crime will go down and people won’t rightfully fear walking down the street. You couldn’t be more wrong.
“You must’ve lost your husband/wife to the strip club life”
Sounds like you have first hand experience. So ghetto.
“he definitely has all or 98% of “blacks” support ”
What a surprise.
“its the best thing that ever happened in Kirkwood”
Wow, What a pathetic, ghetto life you must have for “da club” to be the best thing that happened to you. Isn’t that right, Miss Thang!
Knuckle dragger hater
“They gonna have sit ins? Why because it’s a black owned business?”
Yep.
“To compare this with the civil rights struggle is an insult to all African Americans.”
Don’t tell them that. You’ll ruin their ghetto ignorance they’re so proud to showcase.
Keep fighting the good fight, Krikwood! Do whatever it takes to get rid of the ghetto garbage. Your fellow urban pioneers in Castleberry Hill – or what’s left of it – support your efforts.
Remember, don;t hesitate to call 9-1-1. The more reports they get, the better evidence there!is to shut that hood dump down.
@Mike
“The ghetto element continues to try and ruin this city but they will not win. Atlanta has so much potential that is squandered by these nasty people.”
No truer words have been spoken. Atlanta could be world class but the good people who try to maximize its potential have to fight the ghetto garbage that wants it to be the next Detroit.
@Thomas Charlotte
“This is not about the black race, this about a part of black culture that ruins everything it touches.”
Don’t say that. You’ll take away the “bein’ racial” response they use to excuse all of their destructive behaviors and pastimes.
Remember, any time you criticize a ghetto person for doing something illegal, destructive, anti social and harmful to society, you’re just “bein’ racial.” They can’t be held resaponsible – for anything.
They’d be to be pitied if they weren’t destroying the city for everyone else.
.
@Charlotte Thomas:
I don’t know what blog you refer to in your first post, but I read the comments on the Kirkwood neighborhood website regularly and I have never seen the comments you posted on that site. I would be curious to read the blog you refer to if you would post a link.
For the record, when I moved to Kirkwood, I was one of very few white people living there. I enjoyed getting to know my black neighbors and I have never desired Kirkwood to become another Alpharetta, Buckhead, or anything else other than a safe place to live with some decent places to eat. I’m sure there are people in Kirkwood who are prejudiced, just as there are the world over, but by and large the residents of Kirkwood live there in part because they do appreciate diversity. However, no one should have to tolerate thuggery, regardless of what color it comes in. The community opposition to KBG is due not to the fact that it is a black-owned business with a predominately black clientele, but rather to the increased criminal activities that have resulted since the new owner took over and the fact that the owner operates his business more as a night club than as the family-friendly neighborhood restaurant that was promised. Le Petit Marché is another black-owned business in that same development that is greatly supported by the community. Race was only brought into the conversation when KBG began tweeting allegations that it was the reason the neighborhood opposed his liquor license.
Less than a decade ago, the streets of Kirkwood were filled with crack addicts, drug dealers, prostitutes and gunfire. To their credit, the residents have worked hard in the years since to reduce this element in the community and improve safety and the quality of life for all of Kirkwood’s residents, black, white, asian, hispanic and mixed. Certainly there is more to be done, which is why it is so important that we don’t begin moving backwards. KBG is in Kirkwood Station which is a mixed-use development with many residences sharing walls with KBG. Residents of Kirkwood Station have reported finding drug baggies on the sidewalk outside the club, as well as loud noise, public urination/drunkeness, and gunfire outside their doors since KBG opened. The opposition to KBG is a direct response to an escalation in the same types of activities that prevented residents from feeling safe in years past.
The Kirkwood community voiced their concerns through their Neighborhood Planning Unit and voted to recommend that Atlanta’s License Review Board deny KBG’s liquor license. The LRB however, voted to recommend approval to the mayor. Assuming the mayor approves, and Mr. Johnson continues his current practices, the only other avenues I see to address the issue of ongoing criminal activity would be for the Kirkwood Station Homeowner’s Association to bring suit against him for violation of the association’s rules and have the business shut down, or for the community to stage peaceful protests in the hopes of achieving the same goal.
Mr. Johnson, as anyone else with the means to do so, is well within his right to operate a business anywhere he pleases, as long as he does so legitimately and his business is not a detriment to whatever community it’s in. But until Mr. Johnson learns how to be a good corporate neighbor, he will continue to face opposition. And until people such as Mr. Johnson stop using racial prejudice to excuse bad behavior, true racial prejudice will never be overcome. Please share this with Al and Jesse.
The fact is that whites always try to minimize their racists argument by saying that we aren’t racist we are just against the thug element,well that’s a matter of your perception,what you may view as a thug another may not ,just like every white guy with a shaved head and tattoos isn’t a skin head,blacks and whites have different cultural views just because some blacks don’t conform in a way that you think that they should be doesn’t mean they are ghetto. A white person could never judge how a black person may feel about racism or negative treatment or prejudices towards blacks because they don’t know how it feels because they aren’t black.
@George Bush
“The fact is that whites always try to minimize their racists argument by saying that we aren’t racist we are just against the thug element,well that’s a matter of your perception,what you may view as a thug another may not…”
Blah, blah, blah. You can’t address a single rebuttal to your ridiculous, factually unfounded and downright racist post so you just blather a bunch of cliched ghetto talking points in hopes that will shut people up, essentially saying “youz bein’ racial.” Why? Because it usually works. Those days are coming to en end.
Once the people of this city stop being cowardly and overly PC and flat out say it’s ghetto people that are destroying every decent part of Atlanta, the better off we’ll all be.
Answer these questions, thug defender:
Why does every ghetto bar need a bouncer that frisks people? Other bars don’t have that invasive amenity. Even Wet Willies at Lindbergh, in one of the better parts of town, frisks people walking in AND out. And, surprise, the clientele is 100 percent ghetto. Answer why this happens at only these establishments.
Why do ghetto people bring guns to “da club” in the first place? Decent people don’t do that. Rationalize that.
Why are there always shootings and deadly violence at ghetto “clubs?”
When has a “white club” in Atlanta, as you would racistly call it, had similar incidences of routine gunplay? If so, compare the statistics of shootings at ghetto clubs and so-called “white” bars? There is zero comparison. It’s part of the hood culture: go out drinking and shoot everyone. But go ahead and try to explain it. Enlighten us.
Bottom line: take your worthless, racist, ghetto talking points somewhere else. And stop ruining Atlanta!
Hey George Bush — you’re a genius.
@ George Bush. Thank you. I plowed through, despite nearly getting a headache from all the asinine comments. Thank you for giving me a comment that finally made sense.
@Matt C.
I’m playing a violin for your PC garbage right now.
Nothing makes sense that he said. Which means you’re probably at Kirkwood Bar & Grill right now fixing to bust a cap.
@ Thomas Charlotte. People that are law abiding citizens will call 911 if we see something wrong in their neighborhoods. I don’t care what color they are, if I see someone that is up to no good I will call the cops. Should we be like everyone in southwest Atlanta that is scared to call the cops when a crime happens? Hell no! Sounds like you are used to that attitude of not reporting a crime on another black man crap. Who wants to live in fear in their own neighborhood? It’s NOT about race. The vast majority of white people don’t hate black people. It just the culture of violence that nobody wants.
@ Sarah P.
that would be “fixin'”. No g
@ Charlotte:
Wow, you are such an idiot, and I don’t even know where to begin (except of course the obvious inability to use punctuation).
FACT: 911 calls in the immediate vicinity of KBG have increased 3000% since it opened 3 months ago. You claim that drugs, violence, etc. are a part of Kirkwood and the 911 calls aren’t KBG’s fault. Actually, that’s all part of Kirkwood’s past, but not present. Kirkwood and Zone 6 is one of the safest neighborhoods in Atlanta. KBG has brought a certain level of crime back that Kirkwood hasn’t seen in 5-10 years.
FACT: KBG signed an HOA agreement with Kirkwood Station that they are to close at 11:00. Kirkwood Station tried to compromise and allow them to stay open until 12:00. This is a legal, binding document, and KBG will be taken to court soon if they don’t shape up. Of course, his business model is to have a club in a residential community, and he can’t think of any way to make money with just a restaurant. He has to have DJs, hot body contests, and V103 promotions.
Listen, I am a young professional and I love to have a good time at clubs and bars as well. I have nothing against DJs, hot body contests, and radio promotions. But, KBG IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREAKIN’ MULTI USE CONDO COMMUNITY!!! His blatant disregard for his neighbors and surroundings is pathetic, and the neighborhood has every right to shut him down and run him out of the area. Mr. Johnson is so stubborn and arrogant, he won’t admit that he causes any problems for the decent, working professionals… some with children… that live within mere feet of his bar and SHARES WALLS WITH HIS ESTABLISHMENT. How is this so hard to comprehend that this is a problem? This isn’t a bar in a bar district like Buckhead, or in a commercial shopping center like Esso Club….
You say that Kirkwood Station residents need to get a life. Actually, their quality of life has been stripped from them because of KBG, and they deserve to have it back.
Mr. Johnson is too stubborn and arrogant to change, and I can’t wait for the day he finally is run out of the neighborhood. It will happen eventually, and he’s such an idiot that he’s going to lose alot of money in the process. Over 95% of the neighborhood that took part in the KNO and NPU voting process want him out. Oh and by the way, there were plenty of black hands raised in opposition when the vote was called. I don’t want to speak for them, but I know some of the black owned businesses in his vicinity think he is a cancer and an embarrassment to the neighborhood.
So, please refute any of these arguments with something remotely articulate and intelligent. I yearn for an actual constructive argument about this place, but I’m certain I won’t get one.
Oh, and it’s laughable if you really think that the people that moved to and live in Kirkwood hate diversity. We could easily be living in Johns Creek or Cumming if we did. But we don’t like thug parasites that have no interest in the community that infest and destroy it, which is what KBG is doing. Whether it’s ghetto thugs or suburban meth heads, thug has no color….
@Chris
“Should we be like everyone in southwest Atlanta that is scared to call the cops when a crime happens? Hell no! Sounds like you are used to that attitude of not reporting a crime on another black man crap. Who wants to live in fear in their own neighborhood?”
Indeed. There is a culture of retribution in the hood where you “best beez not callin da po-lice unlez youz wantz a cap in yo azz.” People have been hesitant to call the APD on a ghetto drug dealer that is now renting – of course – in my building for fear he’ll shoot the person who ratted them out. It’s like the old west, only with 50 Cent playing in the background and no one can read.
Mix this savage, ghetto culture with decent, educated people trying to gentrify a neighborhood and turn it into something nice and it becomes toxic.
All residents should call 9-1-1 if so much as a can of Orange Fanta is tossed on the ground. The more calls the better. That’s what that police who advised our neighborhood said to do.
“The vast majority of white people don’t hate black people. It just the culture of violence that nobody wants.”
And they’ll never address that. The ghetto enablers such as “Charlotte Thomas” and “George Bush” will never address why guns are brought to neighborhood sports bars, frozen daiquiri establishments and any place with supposedly positive nightlife. Oh, they’ll dance around it and spout the typical :youz bein racial” and “iz be callin Al Sharpton” like the ghetto parrots they are. But they’ll never address why a supposedly innocent night out is always associated with violence, firearms and mayhem. They avoid that question no matter how many times its asked. And now they claim neighbors should be grateful that this hood saloon has security? They jive talk their way into making themselves the victim. Meanwhile, the felony arrests at this dump keep adding up and young families have to worry a bullet will fly into their child’s bedroom. Unreal.
Bottom line: take your violent, savage ghetto B.S. to the southside. Decent people do not want not deserve an iota of your violent and savage “nightlife.”
Last time I checked it was my white brothers fighting for the laws and telling lawmakers they need a law passed to take a concealed weapon into bars if you remember and also to take them into church if can remember that? So what’s the purpose for that? Are they ghetto?
Also @ Chris have you really been to southwest atlanta? Because if you have ever gone down Cascade road you will see that the so called ghetto people have several multi million dollar homes and several sub divisions that are 500,000 and up.they have several upstanding citizens and leaders and they are living better than the majority of people on here. You must be speaking of the southwest Atlanta that you see portrayed on the news but it’s a very large area, next time you have free time go down cascade rd and look at their homes and then go look at yours,don’t be so quick to believe everything you see on tv all these Rich blacks live somewhere and it’s not in Kirkwood although they may go hang out at the bar over there.
@George Bush
“Last time I checked it was my white brothers fighting for the laws and telling lawmakers they need a law passed to take a concealed weapon into bars if you remember and also to take them into church if can remember that? So what’s the purpose for that? Are they ghetto?”
Still can’t answer the question, can you? Just obfuscation. Again, why do ghetto garbage bring guns to “da club?” Not to mention, shoot them. The laws you cite to distract are beside the point (when do hood rats ever pay attention to the law?). I don’t see people shooting up Chili’s even though they may be legally able to bring in a gun. But a hood rat ghetto club? Like the OK Corral.
Try answering again: why do ghetto trash bring guns – and shoot them – when the go to “da club.”
Still waiting…
@ George Bush – Let me guess, it’s just ironic that Cascade Road and the surrounding areas have some of the highest foreclosure rates in the city?
you thinking of gwinnett,cobb,and dekalb not casacde check your stats…my isnt that ironic?…. cascade has OLD money read up because you dont know what the hell you are talking about…but last time i read it was the whole metro area had a high forclosure rate and it damn sure wasnt in the cascade area …also i was on the subject YOU cant answer why my white brothers were fighting tooth and nail to have the right to carry weapons inside bars and churchs?
no more george bush he was to nice…maybe ill be ronald reagan next time…you all enjoyed reaganomics right/
@ Dru – Now you, George Bush, and Charlotte are showing your ignorance. The argument to bear arms in a church or bar wasn’t so people could shoot one another. It was a legal argument protecting the 2nd amendment and other individual rights. I’m pretty sure when I turn on the news tonight there won’t be a shooting up in Alpharetta in a church or bar. On the other hand, I can almost guarantee that I’ll turn on the news tonight or in the morning and there will be a shooting somewhere in south Atlanta. There’s a clear difference, if you can’t see it, you’re part of the problem. Don’t ignore the obvious, stand up and do something about it.
And yes, I did enjoy Reagan-nomics. Why wouldn’t someone enjoy a prosperous economy? Maybe your compadre Obama should read up on it. He certainly could stand to learn a thing or two.
i dont care about Obama or any other politician, i dont expect them to be anything but what they are politicians….but are the economic conditions the same in Alpharetta and some areas in South Atlanta? You cant expect a person born into bs to look at life the way you do, I dont condone any crime because some have used their bad conditions as anger and the fuel for them to want to live better.But until you have walked in the shoes of a person born into a bad situation how can you speak on the life and trials they live,they from what i read cant count on you to help.The point is that others carry guns inside public places too but i guess its only bad when blacks do it
@Dru
“The point is that others carry guns inside public places too but i guess its only bad when blacks do it”
You can’t see the difference, can you?
Others might carry guns inside public places. Ghetto trash pulls the trigger.
Not, blacks. Ghetto trash.
Now, if you can, explain why.
Damn it George Jr.! Get off this damn site and quit speaking nonsense. I’ll set the record for George. He is trying to defend this “Bar and Grill”, but not doing a very good job. So in an effort to be transparent and move on, I’m going to answer Sarah’s Question:
“why do ghetto trash bring guns – and shoot them – when the go to “da club.””
Answer: Because we don’t feel safe from our own peers. There will be drugs, testasteorne, tits, and when we get a little tipsy, we tend to argue. And since we already have guns, we use them to settle the arguments. It’s simple, we need the guns to keep ourselves safe from each other. Duh! I mean seriously, what’s wrong with that? If everyone has guns, then nobody will use them.
So, Sarah, quit asking, please for the love of malt liquor and guns, stop asking!
In Atlanta, VIP = Very Ignorant People.
He should seriously consider cutting his losses and opening up somewhere else more conducive to his business. He’s a complete idiot if he continues down the same path, because I see a law suit in this guy’s future. He better lawyer up!!
Show me an all black club in Atlanta that does not have shootings, stabbings and crime. All white clubs dont have those problems. So what is the reason? Must be something in the cognac?
or something in the beer, moonshine or whisky thats makes people who leave white clubs and kill people in dui’s
You know, the race-baiting isn’t doing any favors for your respective races. It just makes you sound like asinine, classless five-year-olds, which only feeds more fodder to your opposition.
Now you are all free to bombard me instead of each other. Frankly, at this point, it might seem refreshing to see you agree on something.
I’ve dined at Kirkwwood bar & grill when the previous owner owned the establishement and when the new owners taken over. Shame on Kirkwood residents for causing a problem for these new owners. Why is okay not to treat eveyone as equals or as Americans. We are the same in God’s eyes…. And you say this is not a race thing… Then what is it about… How is it right for Americans citizens to call people monkeys or anything else for that matter. Why is it so hard to give these new owners an opportunity to have a business. But it was okay for the previous owner to have business. right is right and wrong is wrong… this is not right.. All I see is that nothing has changed over the years and we as a nation have not grown as far as treating everyone as a Americans;instead of treating us by the color of our skin…
All these business owners wants is the opportunity is to have a business…. We are all American citizens of this country…. How is it right to hear one side of a story and not all of the story…. Everyone is suppose to be treated the same……
@ Tee; To answer your question it is NOT about race. It is about hard working residents enforcing rules that are governed by Kirkwood Station Condominium Association’s declaration and Bylaws. Per the rules, Kirkwood Bar and Grill is not allowed to stay open past 11pm. David Johnson knew this when he signed his lease. If he doesn’t know how to read that is his own fault. The bottom line is this. You don’t try to open a niteclub that’s open until 2am next to a childs bedroom in a condo association. That’s right, the DJ booth shares a wall with a childs bedroom! Get your facts straight before you try to defend a poorly managend business. David Johnson is the only racist that is trying to cultivate hate and division in a very cool diverse neighborhood.
I can’t believe all this I am reading. As a residence of the outlying community of Kirkwood and Eastlake Meadows, I can attest that the crime rate has always been bad. Maybe we should blame the police who’s station is less than a football field away.
Mr. Right; I have my facts straight do you… This business owner is only trying to establish a business; just like the next man. And stating that he doesn’t know how to read is just not right. Regardless of who the owner is you will have some noise… Now if Mr. Johnson is willing to close at the hours as indicated and agreed to put a lid on the noise. Then allow him to do just that. And I’m sure in the rules and guidelines of the commounity that is doesn’t state that the residents have the right to tell a business owner where to open his business. But you’re telling me this right how this business owner is being treated… No it’s not!!! Now I will defend any business owner who is trying to establish a business whether it’s a MAN OR WOMAN
KIRKWOOD BAR & GRILL should be given the opportunity to be successful.. Like any other business in Atlanta…. THE FOOD IS AWESOME!!!!!! SO LET’S KEEP KIRKWOOD BAR & GRILL OPEN!!!!! LET’S KEEP IT OPEN!!!!!
Is it just me or is @Charlotte a total tard?
It was called V.I.N.O.C.I.T.Y. (as in Vino for wine?) not Velocity (as in speed?).
And Spades is never open until 2am, ya big ole douche. Spades is a nice, quiet, decent establishment with normal operating hours for a restaurant, primarily because it IS a restaurant. Not a pseudo-restuarant ghetto testosterone “club”.
Someone tell me what restaurants around here that are open until 2am and feature hot body contests? I mean, even Hooters has more class.
Whatevs. This whole debate is stupid. Johnson lied from the start about his intentions and has GOT to know by now that a “club” in a partially residential development is not going to last. The whole Stand Up Kirkwood thing is a joke and anyone who takes it seriously is an even bigger joke for not seeing it as the blatant manipulation that it is. Manipulations are short term solutions to long-term problems. Once the manipulation falls away, the problem will still be there.
So, Kirkwood, prove you aren’t racists by patronizing Spades & Marchet (oh, you already do that, don’t you?) and David can stand there holding his Johnson.
Hahahahaha…. The Mayor didn’t approve the liquor license and sent it back to the LRB, basically telling them to get it right this time and DENY his license. That coupled with the Mayors task force that is supposed to clean up the LRBs process means that KBGs days are numbered in Kirkwood. David Johnson has no one to blame but himself for being deceitful, manipulative, and most of all, and idiot! Bye bye Kirkwood Bar and Grill!!!!!!!
The saga continues:
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/bar-owner-seeks-atlanta-1218483.html
So you’re telling me that someone from Kirkwood (a MULTI-ETHNIC neighborhood) drove 35 miles to his house and spray painted a racist slur on his garage… the same day that the bar owner got the official word that his license has been sent back to the LRB from the Mayor, and that he was told by the City Zoning Board to remove the ILLEGAL reflective tape over his windows?!
Now he’s been pimping out the articles to anyone who will listen, and is posting the news articles on Al Sharpton’s and Barack Obama’s Twitter feeds. This guy has gone crazy! Anyone who believes him is blind. Mr. Johnson, tell me… how are all of the other black, Asian, gay, lesbian, white, etc etc businesses THRIVING in such a wonderfully diverse neighborhood like Kirkwood, when you claim it’s full of racists bigots?
What do we have to do to get Wet Willies closed before it ruins the graveyard of Lindberg?