Gladys Knight Chicken & Waffles Scores 44 on Health Inspection

ATLANTA, GA — The popular but troubled diner Glady Knight Signature Chicken & Waffles scored a low failing grade of 44 on a recent health inspection.

Roaches and fruit flies, as well as grease and dirt build-ups, were noted on the Peachtree Street restaurant's inspection,which happened last Thursday.

Under Georgia law, the restaurant will be inspected again within the next 10 days. Another failing grade could lead to Chicken & Waffles being shut down temporarily to fix the problems or even having its license revoked.

On the health inspection report, inspectors noted a litany of problems which led to the score of 44 out of a possible 100. They included:

• Heavy fruit fly activity
• Two dead roaches and two live roaches in the kitchen
• A gallon of bleach being stored next to food at a server's station
• Employees handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands
• Food, including raw fish, being stored at temperatures that were too warm
• Expired Coca-Cola products
• An employee with long fingernails preparing food
• Heavy grease build-up on several items and areas in the kitchen
• Multiple leaky sinks
• Garbage piled high next to a back entrance
• The overall facility in need of detail cleaning, with dirt, dust and grease build-ups
• standing water pooled in parts of the kitchen

The report says that this was an inspection based on a complaint and that the restaurant will have to schedule an "intervention hearing" with public health officials.

The failing report comes during a troubled time for the restaurant.

Gladys Knight has filed a lawsuit to have her name removed from the chain of restaurants now run by her son, Shanga Hankerson. Hankerson has refused.

That move came after federal revenue officials conducted a June raid at all locations of the restaurant and its corporate headquarters.

The Department of Revenue has opened an investigation of Hankerson, alleging he has failed to pay more than $650,000 in sales and withholding taxes.

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