Alex Gidewon has been a king of Atlanta’s nightlife scene for years, but he decided to permanently close the doors of his family’s latest venture after brother Michael Gidewon was shot and killed by a friend on Feb. 4 outside of the club.
Alex planned a public service for Michael on Tuesday, Feb 14, while his suspected killer Jonathan “Sodo” David remains on the loose. Alex is offering a $100,000 for anyone who can share his whereabouts.
In a heartfelt post shared last week, Gidewon wrote: “How did this happen? Why did this happen? I trusted you. Anybody that knows me knows I keep a small circle but I let you in…You know Mike’s family. His wife. Their children. How could you do this?”
According to reports from employees, Sodo was “angry at [Michael] Gidewon for kicking him out of the club for being too drunk… [and] he waited in the parking lot for Gidewon to leave, then shot him and ran.”
Michael was a co-owner of Republic Lounge, where Sodo reportedly shot and killed him, in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood blocks away from the family’s former famed nightlife spot, Compound.
His brother Alex has since announced that Republic Lounge is permanently closing its doors. He asks that any tips be reported to authorities at 404-577-8477.