Devastating loss of Republic Lounge co-owner in fatal shooting outside his club

The co-owner of a well-known Atlanta nightclub was reportedly shot dead in front of his own club on Saturday morning, according to authorities.

The man found dead in front of the Republic Lounge, which is located at 990 Brady Avenue NW close to 11th Street NW, was identified by police as Michael Gidewon The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, when officers arrived just before 7 a.m., they found Gidewon suffering from a gunshot wound. He showed no sign of life. At the scene, doctors pronounced him dead.

While it was not immediately clear why or who shot Gidewon, authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with his death.

On Saturday night, a modest memorial began to take shape near the spot where a 50-year-old man was found shot dead the previous day.

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According to documents filed with the Secretary of State of Georgia, Gidewon has been active as a nightlife entrepreneur for 35 years. Because of the conflict, he and his younger brother Alex fled Eritrea to East Africa. The brothers would learn the ins and outs of nightlife by working as servants.

Alex ran the now-defunct Compound nightclub as the two eventually worked their way up to owning two clubs a block apart.

Gidewon was known in his own right. He often associated, organized and befriended emerging artists and well-known artists such as TI, Young Jeezy, Usher, Nelly, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Baby and Ludacris.

He also did not hesitate to participate in humanitarian efforts, including assisting at several Thanksgiving dinners. Shelam, Gidewon’s wife, and their four children are left behind.

Gidewon’s friends and relatives could not be reached for comment, and neither the clubs nor anyone else has made any public announcements on social media.

The Republic Lounge is located in the western Home Park area, which is home to a variety of well-known bars, eateries, multi-purpose buildings, and other businesses.

There has been a lot of violence in the area in recent years. FOX 5 has covered only a few such incidents.

Four people were shot outside the Compound in the early morning hours of January 2020, in October 2020 there were reports of a shooting along Brady Avenue close to Howell Mill Road, in January 2021 seven people were stabbed in the Republic Lounge, and in May 2022 a man was apprehended after a short chase after police said he had fired a gun into the air outside the same location.

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