Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Diddy Closes Justin's Restaurant in Atlanta

After 14 years the music mogul shuts the doors at his popular eatery.




The lights are out at Diddy's restaurant, Justin's in Altanta. The 14-year-old eatery has closed business for good, reports Access Atlanta. A spokesperson at Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group confirmed the closure saying the company will pursue "other business ventures in music, television, fashion, fragrance and spirits."

Diddy founded Justin's, named after his first-born son, in New York City in 1997. The Atlanta branch opened up the following year. 

The restaurant, which often hosted many big-name events, wasn't without its troubles. In July 2011, Diddy was sued after music executive Tony Austin, a patron of the Atlanta eatery, was shot in the parking lot. Austin, former A&R for Def Jam and President of Russell Simmons Music Group, says he was in his car listening to music with another man when someone opened fire on the vehicle. Austin alleged that the proprietors of Justin's were aware of "dangerous and hazardous conditions" at the establishment, but failed to provide accurate warning or security protection. 

The original New York branch of Justin's closed in 2007 after 10 years in business due to a need for a larger restaurant in the NYC area. A new location was never opened. 

The restaurant's namesake, Justin Combs, has been making headlines of his own of late, as he's been criticized for accepting an athletic scholarship from UCLA worth $54,000 a year. Some have complained that because the standout student athlete is the son of Diddy, who's worth $550 million, he doesn't need the scholarship and should therefore return it. 

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