Agents shut down chicken and waffles restaurant

ATLANTA — Agents have shut down the former signature Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant.

Only Channel 2 Action News was there when agents raided the midtown Atlanta restaurant Thursday afternoon and posted a letter on the door.

Investigators say Gladys Knight's son, Shanga Hankerson, owes sales tax, but has not paid all of it.

The Department of Revenue revoked the restaurant's ability to collect sales tax.

Channel 2's Mark Winne spoke to Hankerson as he left the restaurant.

"I can't answer any questions right now," he said.

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Knight sued Hankerson last year, demanding that he stop using her name.

He was also arrested last year on theft and racketeering charges.

Hankerson got the restaurant back in October, but has again failed to turn over all the sales tax he collected.

"He's had more than enough chances," said Josh Waites, with the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Waites said Hankerson still faces civil action from hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax collected from the public, but not turned over, as well as criminal charges he faces in Clayton County.

"He really, truly is working really hard on cleaning up the tax issues," one employee said.

The restaurant has since been renamed World Famous Chicken and Waffles. A spokesperson for Knight said she prays her son can get things worked out. There is an agreement between both parties that Knight's name is no longer a part of the restaurant's name and is being removed from all messaging.

Cox Media Group