‘Draw your own conclusions.’ Popular Atlanta chef abruptly shuts down his businesses

ATLANTA — A popular Atlanta chef has made the decision to suddenly shut down his restaurants, but he says it has nothing to do with the trouble he's facing involving another business.

Darius Williams hasn’t been shy about revealing struggles tied to his mental health, which he says took a serious toll on him shortly before he closed his restaurants down.

But state records also give us a glimpse of what was happening with Soul Crab Atlanta over the summer, as well as another business the state says he operated illegally.

“Draw your own conclusions, take what you want. Child, this has been an investigation, this has been going on since the summer of last year,” Williams said.

Williams posted a nearly 20-minute Facebook video to fans Tuesday morning.

The Atlanta entrepreneur told his Facebook friends about his path to better mental health and denying his trouble with the state is tied to the sudden closure of his two Atlanta restaurants and his Chicago establishment this week.

“I wrote the check in December, so I really don't understand how one has to do with the other, and um…it is what it is,” Williams said.

Williams is referring to his $145,000 settlement with the state, which has accused him of operating an illegal credit repair business, where he accepted money before providing services or misled consumers about how he could actually help them.

He still operates legally in other states and responds to complaints, saying some clients may have further damaged their own credit after he signed them on.

“I don't want to go into people's personal stuff because I’m bound by confidentiality, but that's typically what happens,” Williams said.

State records show both the credit repair business and one of the restaurants, Soul Crab ATL, lost its business licensing with the state last summer because of financial and compliance issues.

Williams doesn’t address the restaurant’s record, but says the state judgment and restaurant closures are unrelated, and he denies financial problems.

“I’ve been pulling seven figures a year for several years,” Williams said.

As far as reaction from the public…..

“I used to work here. I thought the food was great. I didn’t know he was closing down,” former employee Vincent Stroud said.

“Staple in the community. Been here for awhile and I’m just shocked,” business owner Matt Garbett said.

“Money is not an issue for him, but his mental health is, and I’m sad to see him go, but I’m delighted that he's taking care of his inner being,” Keinosha Keaton said.

In an email, Williams said it could take up to two days to respond to our interview request because of the volume of inquiries.

Meanwhile, the state attorney general’s office says it can’t comment on how much of the settlement has been paid, but the case is still open and it is showing Williams’ former Georgia clients how to file refund claims.

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