Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles' downtown location flunked its third health inspection this year, earning a 65 during a Thursday check.

The troubled restaurant violated contamination, cleanliness and pest control rules, according to the state Department of Public Health restaurant inspection website.

Owner Shanga Hankerson, 40, son of the soul music legend and Atlanta native, was arrested in June on felony theft charges. Investigators said he collected tax money and failed to turn it over to the state. He faces nearly $1 million in taxes, fines and penalties and is fighting a civil racketeering case.

An investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that he was spending money on marijuana and sex parties as the restaurant sank. Knight is suing him in federal court to remove her name from the restaurant.

The eatery's Cascade location earned an "A" during its last inspection in September. A location in Lithonia closed in August.

Check here for more details on the inspection.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor and AJC Publisher Andrew Morse were joined by AJC editors and Atlanta business react during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Midtown on Friday, January 24, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo