Kandi Burruss’s Old Lady Gang and Blaze Steak and Seafood Permanently Shut Down After Landlord Sues for Over $154,000 in Unpaid Rent and Massive Property Damages

In a stunning turn of events for the Real Housewives of Atlanta star and Grammy-winning entrepreneur Kandi Burruss, two of her flagship restaurants—Old Lady Gang and Blaze Steak and Seafood—have officially shuttered their doors following a lawsuit filed by their landlord. The lawsuit alleges over $154,000 in unpaid rent and significant damage to the property, effectively ending operations at both establishments.

From Bravo to Bankruptcy?

Old Lady Gang (OLG), named in homage to Burruss’s mother Joyce Jones and aunts Nora and Bertha, was a popular soul food destination in Atlanta that gained national attention thanks to its feature on Bravo and Burruss’s own spinoff reality show. Blaze Steak and Seafood, which opened in 2020 and was named after Burruss and husband Todd Tucker’s daughter, aimed to cater to a more upscale clientele in Atlanta’s Cascade area.

Despite their buzz, both restaurants had faced their share of controversies, including health inspection violations, staffing issues, and legal disputes over employee wages and working conditions.

Now, the landlord of the shopping center housing both restaurants has filed a scathing lawsuit accusing the tenants of defaulting on lease payments for months and leaving behind extensive property damage, including plumbing problems, grease buildup, and broken kitchen equipment.

The Details of the Lawsuit

Court documents reveal that the landlord is suing for $154,000 in back rent, plus additional costs to repair what they describe as “massive damage to the leased premises.” According to the complaint, the damage was “well beyond normal wear and tear,” suggesting neglect or misuse of the facilities.

The lawsuit also points out that despite multiple notices and attempts to resolve the issue amicably, Burruss’s team allegedly failed to respond or provide payment. As a result, eviction proceedings were initiated, leading to the permanent closure of both restaurants this past week.

What This Means for Kandi Burruss

The restaurant closures come at a particularly sensitive time for Burruss, who recently announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta after 14 seasons. While she remains involved in other ventures—including her Broadway producing work, the Bedroom Kandi brand, and her YouTube series Speak On It—the financial and reputational fallout from this lawsuit could mark a serious blow to her business empire.

Fans and customers of the Old Lady Gang brand have taken to social media to express both shock and support, with many lamenting the loss of a Black-owned establishment that had become a cultural fixture in Atlanta’s West End.

Todd Tucker Under Fire

Todd Tucker, Burruss’s husband and business partner, has also come under scrutiny. Sources close to the matter say Tucker was overseeing day-to-day operations at Blaze and OLG and may have mismanaged resources as the restaurants struggled to recover from pandemic-era challenges.

“Everyone’s pointing fingers,” a source told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There’s a lot of blame going around, but at the end of the day, someone has to be accountable.”

A Pattern of Struggles

This is not the first time Burruss’s restaurant ventures have made headlines. In 2021, Blaze Steak and Seafood was temporarily shut down by the health department after receiving a failing score during an inspection. There were also multiple reports of former staffers alleging poor management, wage disputes, and unsafe working conditions.

Despite these red flags, Burruss and Tucker had pushed forward, even expressing interest in expanding the OLG brand to other cities.

What’s Next for the Old Lady Gang Brand?

With the physical locations closed and the lawsuit looming, it’s unclear what the future holds for the Old Lady Gang franchise. Merchandise and brand licensing may continue online, but the restaurant's brick-and-mortar presence in Atlanta appears to have come to a dramatic end.

Burruss has yet to make a public statement about the closures or the lawsuit, but fans are eagerly awaiting a response—likely to come through her Speak On It YouTube platform, where she often addresses personal and professional controversies head-on.