City of Atlanta files motion to shut down operations of struggling Buckhead club

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The city of Atlanta is taking steps to try to close a Buckhead club where two people died in a shooting this month.

New documents filed Friday in Georgia Superior Court show the city is seeking a temporary restraining order against Elleven 45 Lounge, its manager, the owner’s company and others.

According to the motion, this order would prohibit the club from hosting events, serving customers or permitting any operations.

On May 12, a shooting resulted in the deaths of 20-year-old Nakyris Ridley and 21-year-old Mari Creighton.

In a previous interview, Creighton’s sister told Atlanta News First that she wants to see the club close.

“It’s just not safe,” Telia Wheeler said. “If I had known there had been incidents like this before, I probably would have encouraged my sister not to go.”

The archives bear witness to a checkered past for the company.

Since June 2020, Atlanta police have been called to two other shootings, 35 fights and 38 noise complaints.

Business records reveal that manager Djibril Dafe also operated Encore Hookah Bar & Bistro, another Atlanta club that the city closed in 2022, citing safety concerns.

Last week, Atlanta authorities launched an investigation into Elleven45 Lounge.

An online petition to close the club, launched in 2020, garnered more than 600 new signatures this week alone, according to the site.

Atlanta News First reached out to Dafe, who did not respond to any of our inquiries.

The owner, Lee Nicholson, told us “no comments”.