Over the weekend rumors were running rampant that Sean Comb’s landmark Justin’s Restaurant was closing its doors. The AJC finally confirmed the rumor yesterday. But rumors have swirled for years that Justin’s was closing down.
Justin’s restaurant was never really profitable in the 14 years since it opened to much fanfare on Peachtree Road in midtown. Rumor had it that Combs was just a minority owner who fronted for the real owners of the restaurant.
Justin’s business really took a hit when V-103 Morning Show co-host Frank Ski opened his popular restaurant a block away from Justin’s last year. Franks Ski’s was the nail in the coffin for Justin’s Restaurant as the Frank’s eatery attracted celebrities and other VIPs.
Combs opened the restaurant in 1998 when he and his family maintained homes and a presence in the Atlanta area. Combs and Kim Porter’s children attended private schools in Atlanta.
Porter moved to California when local socialite Sarah Chapman gave birth to Combs’ first daughter.
Justin’s restaurant’s namesake, Justin Dior Combs, made headlines last week when he graduated from high school amid angry reports that his $54,000 free ride to UCLA could have gone to someone less fortunate.
From AJC Food and More blog:
Earlier this week we reported that Sean “Diddy” Combs’ restaurant, Justin’s, was rumored to close today. The restaurant’s general manager, Solomon Fornie, denied the closure was permanent, instead indicating that the restaurant would undergo renovations for a short period before reopening.
Today, we received word from a spokesperson for Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (BBWEG), founded by Combs, confirming rumors that the 14-year-old restaurant will not reopen.
According to the statement, BBWEG closed Justin’s Restaurant in order to pursue “other business ventures in music, television, fashion, fragrance and spirits.” The company, however, says it is “actively exploring business opportunities in Atlanta” and promises “to have a strong presence in the region.”
–by Jenny Turknett, Food and More blog
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