An employee of Avondale Estates' quirky circus-themed restaurant, Pallookaville Fine Foods, is recovering from another surgery after being stabbed by a co-worker.

“Mr. Thomas had his second surgery yesterday, it was successful and he is doing well,” the restaurant posted Monday on its Facebook page.

Fellow employee Ian Clayton, 27, allegedly wielded a butcher knife against James Thomas around 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday while customers were eating, according to arrest warrants.

The possible motive hasn’t been revealed other than a disagreement in the kitchen, where the attack happened.

The restaurant is raising money for Thomas in a GoFundMe campaign.

On Tuesday morning, more than $1,500 of a $2,500 goal had been raised.

Like DeKalb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter and Instagram

About the Author

Keep Reading

Amber Hicks’ father, Mark Boggs (center), hugs Hicks’ cousin Kirstyn Bauer upon hearing the life sentence for Matthew Lanz on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Lanz was convicted a day earlier in the 2021 killings of Hicks and her husband, Justin, in their Acworth home. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Tracy Woodard from InTown Cares (left) and Lauren Hopper from Mercy Care organization work with residents at the Copperton Street encampment in August 2024. 
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez