It started as a beautiful story: A mother helped a troubled son-devastated by his parents' divorce and severely overweight-to find his footing and become a restauranteur. They have fewer employees than normal and are operated in a disorderly manner,” the suit states.READ MORE: Patti LaBelle's Sweet Potato Pie Has Gone Completely Viral They keep irregular hours, often opening late and closing early. “They often have insufficient food to serve patrons and a number of menu items are often unavailable. The suit describes the restaurants as “an important tribute to Knight’s storied career,” and complains that they are being run poorly. “We’re happy to see stores are still operating and employees are keeping their jobs,” said Joshua Waites, director of the department’s office of special investigations. The move was formalized July 21, but the business, through its receiver, has continued to use her name, likeness and memorabilia, it states.Ī state Department of Revenue investigator declined comment on the lawsuit, but said that the agency is pleased that the remaining restaurants are in business. Knight had considered ending the agreement that let Hankerson use her name as early as 2009 for “what she perceived as mismanagement of the Restaurants,” but only decided to move forward this year, according to the complaint, which was filed Friday. The remaining locations, including the popular downtown Atlanta storefront, are operating under receivership. One of the restaurant’s three locations closed its doors permanently earlier this month. Restaurant leadership cut corners that led to bad health inspection scores and service. Employees went unpaid and said they worked under unhealthy conditions. Witnesses told investigators that the money was being used for sex parties and marijuana, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found. Knight, an Atlanta native, is not suspected of wrongdoing. Knight’s son Shanga Hankerson was arrested in June after a Georgia Department of Revenue investigation found that he pocketed taxes that the restaurant collected from customers, according to his arrest warrant. I have invested sixty-years of my life developing my craft, name and brand and I do not want my name associated with the business at this time,” Knight said. “Until the legal issues are resolved it is best to remove my name because I do not have an interest in or influence over the restaurants. In a written statement sent to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Knight said she wants to distance herself from the restaurant business as its legal troubles move through court. “The Restaurants are in free fall and their decline necessarily has the collateral effect of damaging Knight’s Intellectual Property and Knight’s reputation,” the suit states. The suit, filed recently in Atlanta federal court, also asks that Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles stop using the Empress of Soul’s recipes and memorabilia. Soul music legend Gladys Knight is asking a judge to remove her name and likeness from her son’s troubled chicken and waffle restaurants, saying their flagging fortunes are hurting her reputation. By Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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