Remains of Red Martini lounge looted after being evicted from Buckhead location
ATLANTA - The Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge has been evicted from its Buckhead home after a year-long battle with its landlord. Word soon spread on social media, causing a crush of people hoping to cash in on what was put to the curb.
The parking lot behind the now-closed business, located in the 3100 block of Peachtree Road, turned into a madhouse, prompting police to be called shortly after noon. Looters grabbed whatever they could, loading TVs into moving trucks and stealing boxes of liquor. The news spread like wildfire on social media with throngs of onlookers and opportunities stopping by.
"It was kind of like a viral post," said Ashlee Aldridge, who stopped by to see the commotion. "By the time we got here, everything was shut down."
The popular nightspot was officially shuttered on Wednesday and its contents removed after a year-long battle between the landlord and tenant.
"They got a little eviction," said Troy Gibson, who says he knows the owner.
Brian Alt, who identified himself as the bar owner, confirmed the landlord was kicking them out even though he says he had paid the rent on time.
"The landlord decided that Aug. 7 was a great day to pull the plug," Gibson said, adding that it came as a surprise. "Nobody knew it was happening."
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SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene and saw people rummaging through the boxes, which were full of liquor and alcohol bottles.
According to court documents, the landlord-tenant dispute dates to August 2023. Those same documents show that a Fulton County Magistrate Court judge ruled in favor of the landlord, Raph + Rita Ventures, LLC, back in December. Judge Todd Ashley wrote in the ruling in part:
"...that the Landlord terminated the Lease on August 4, 2023 and [Red Martini] has been a tenant at sufferance since August 11, 2023 when it forcibly re-took possession of and excluded Landlord from the Premises..."
The court also outlined costs owed by Red Martini for rent.
Last December, the judge issued an order to have the tenants removed.
Arrest of ex-Douglas County judge at Buckhead nightclub
The lounge recently made headlines after the arrest of now-former Douglas County Judge Christina Peterson.
Peterson was arrested on June 20 by an Atlanta police officer working an extra job. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the officer spotted a disturbance outside the venue and attempted to escort a woman from the premises.
While assisting security in deescalating the situation, the officer was approached by another woman, later identified as Peterson, who began screaming at the security guard and the officer. Police say she then forcibly pushed the officer in the chest. Despite the officer’s attempts to assist the woman being escorted out, Peterson continued to interfere, swiping at the officer’s hands.
Police say after a second push to the chest, Peterson was placed under arrest. However, she repeatedly refused to provide her identifying information, causing delays in her processing. Subsequent investigation allowed officers to confirm her identity.
On the Fourth of July, the Atlanta Police Department released several hours of footage connected with Peterson's arrest. In the footage, Peterson is visibly emotional while sitting in the back of the squad car, telling officers, "Book me in … unbuckle me and book me in."
"It's harassment," Peterson says in the footage. "It's poli-tricks."
Peterson refuted the officer’s claims. She is facing charges of simple battery and felony obstruction. She is awaiting trial.
She was removed from the bench by the Georgia Supreme Court on June 25.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission decided in April that she was guilty of "systemic incompetence" because she ignored courthouse rules, abused courthouse personnel, made inappropriate posts on social media and, in repeated cases, failed to do her job. The decision came after four separate hearings that began in September 2023. She faced 30 counts of misconduct.