“Targeted from Day One”: The GOAT Owner Says Former Councilwoman and Police Department Sabotaged His Business

Game Changers
Nov 14
5 min read

By Game Changers Media Network — Where change starts with conversation

Editor’s note: The following story is based on a recorded interview with John, owner of The GOAT Sports Lounge, along with documents he says came from open-records requests and materials he shared with Game Changers. Many of the actions described below are allegations that the City of McDonough and the individuals named will have the opportunity to respond to. Our newsroom invited comment and will publish any responses we receive.

The Clip That Lit Up the Internet

When John—known around town as the entrepreneur behind The GOAT Sports Lounge & Bar—posted a video alleging his business was targeted by former Councilwoman Kam Varner with help from McDonough Police leadership, social media erupted. The comments flooded in: some supportive, some skeptical, many asking for receipts. So we sat down with John in the studio for a full, uncut conversation.

“She told my staff, ‘You’ll find out who I am,’ and from there the calls started. Every weekend. Every day we were open.” — John, owner of The GOAT

How the Beef Began, According to John

John traces the conflict to a night inside his establishment when, he says, former Councilwoman Varner disputed an automatically applied 18% gratuity—a policy he says was posted on the menu, signage, and table tents. Words were exchanged between Varner and a staffer. From there, he alleges, the situation moved from a customer dispute to a political campaign against his livelihood.

Allegation: Varner “rode by nightly,” then called the police chief to dispatch officers to the GOAT.
Result, per John: Daily patrols and walk-throughs, especially on weekends, creating a chilling effect on customers and revenue.

John claims city insiders and officers told him off the record that repeated visits were being ordered from the top. He says he has texts and call logs he’s prepared to present in court.

The Liquor License Standoff

John says the pressure intensified around his annual alcohol license renewal. In McDonough, the police chief signs off on alcohol permits. John alleges that Chief Ken Noble repeatedly refused to sign, citing shifting reasons that, in John’s telling, changed after he complied:

“Do this.” He does it.
“Now do that.” He does it.
“I’m not signing anyway.”

At one point, John says, the city argued the business name “didn’t match”—after years of operating at the same location without issue.

“I had a liquor license, clear as day—until the Cam situation started. After that, I could not get the chief’s sign-off.” — John

January 11: Arrest and Alleged Destruction of Inventory

John says that on January 11, officers arrested him, accusing him of selling alcohol without a license. He maintains no illegal sales occurred, that late-night cups on tables held juice or mixers, and that—crucially—the state, not the city, has jurisdiction over seizing alcohol inventory.

Allegation: City officers opened locked liquor cages and poured out thousands of dollars of product.
John’s position: Only state authorities (ATF/state ABT) would have had the authority to confiscate or destroy alcohol stock; he says the city’s actions damaged property and overreached its authority.

“Targeting Black Businesses”

John frames his experience within a broader claim: that Black-owned venues in and around McDonough have faced heightened scrutiny and political pressure. He names 1942—another Black-owned nightlife venue—as facing new music/smoke ordinance pushes and threat-of-closure rhetoric.

“You’re not going after spots where the fights happen every weekend. You’re coming after us. We bring revenue. We pay taxes. We give folks a safe, local option so they don’t have to drive to Atlanta.” — John

John insists he’s not aligned with any mayoral candidate. He says he hasn’t spoken with Mayor Sandra Vincent about his case and denies anyone paid Game Changers to publish or amplify his story.

The Politics People Whisper About

According to John, the pressure escalated before former Councilwoman Varner publicly signaled a mayoral run. He alleges coordination between Varner and police leadership, and he connects today’s dynamics to “old-guard” power networks trying to retake the city’s political center.

These are serious claims, and as of press time, they remain allegations awaiting the tests of discovery, depositions, and court.

The Paper Trail & The Lawsuit

John says his attorney issued an ante litem notice (a required pre-suit demand when suing a city in Georgia). After the city, he says, rejected the demand, his legal team moved to file suit. He tells us that Varner is named in the action and that the City of McDonough is being sued for, among other things, property destruction and abuse of authority. He claims to possess texts, recordings, and internal tips and says he is prepared to authenticate them in court.

(Editor’s note: An ante litem notice gives a municipality formal notice of a claim and a chance to resolve it before litigation. It also preserves the claimant’s right to sue.)

What About the Criticism?

Online comments questioned rent payments, after-hours operation, and professionalism. John’s replies:

Rent: “I wasn’t evicted. I left due to harassment. I own other property and moved my equipment.”
Hours: “Our posted closing time was 5:00 a.m.. We operated within our permitted hours.”
Professionalism: “We comped customers when needed. You can’t please everyone, but issues were addressed.”

What’s Next for The GOAT

John says The GOAT is reopening at a new, undisclosed location—with pizza upstairs and a speakeasy-style lounge in the basement. He’s focused on creating safe, local nightlife in the South Metro that keeps patrons off the highways and money in the community.

“You can’t stop what God has for me. I’m going to keep building, keep employing people, and keep giving folks a place to be.” — John

Why This Matters

Economic equity: If enforcement is uneven, Black entrepreneurs pay a premium just to exist.
Public trust: Alcohol permitting and code enforcement must be transparent and content-neutral.
Civic culture: McDonough’s future—old guard vs. new growth—will be shaped by how we treat local businesses today.

Timeline (As Alleged)

Year 1–4: The GOAT operates with an alcohol license in good standing.
Gratuity dispute night: Exchange between staff and former Councilwoman Kam Varner.
Following weeks: Repeated police visits; chief allegedly declines to sign license renewal.
January 11: Arrest; inventory allegedly destroyed.
Aftermath: Ante litem notice served; demand rejected; lawsuit filed.
Now: The GOAT preparing to reopen at a new site; litigation pending.

Our Ask to Readers & Officials

If you worked these details on any side—city staff, MPD, council, neighboring businesses—and have documents, send them to our newsroom.
City of McDonough, former Councilwoman Varner, and Chief Ken Noble—we welcome your on-the-record responses or documents that clarify policies and decision-making. We will publish substantive replies in full or in extended excerpts.

“I don’t have a dog in politics. I have a business. I pay taxes. I hire people. If you’re truly ‘for the people,’ stop making Black businesses the exception.” — John

Owner of The GOAT Appears on VOTV