Ludacris to close Straits in Midtown, focus on airport restaurant

Grammy winning artist Ludacris is closing Straits Atlanta, a Midtown eatery he has operated for four years with partner Chris Yeo.

Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, made the decision after winning a contract to open a restaurant -- Chicken N Beer -- at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with Atlanta Restaurant Partners. The airport's concession contracts were approved Tuesday in a marathon City Council meeting.

The eatery was inspired by the artist's 2003 album of the same name. It will serve comfort food and craft beers using locally grown ingredients.

"As I continue to learn and evolve as a businessman, I am extremely excited to put my restaurateur footprint into a new venture inside the busiest international airport in the United States, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport," Ludacris said in a release. "Straits was a great segue into the industry and with Chicken N Beer I can create my own concept. I look forward to expanding my creativity and driving to a much higher plane."