Grantville Committee Board Member & Local Restaurant Owner

In the Summer of 2023, Georgia Transparency (GT) began looking into something after an anonymous tip was submitted regarding a local business using city power. However, source information could not be verified. Therefore, no substantial information relevant to the tip was introduced in the featured story.

However, an open records request was submitted for information in relation to local business “Reds Grub Shack”.

On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, an open records request was returned for information pertaining to local business Red’s Grub Shack. Records were emailed to GT from the Law Office of S. Mark Mitchell, LLC.

Whereas none of this information portrayed any significance until Charles “Red” Phillips (Red) applied to be on multiple Grantville Committee Boards. On March 11, 2024, at the city council meeting is when I had the pleasure of meeting Red. This is when Red stood up and made multiple attempts to block my camera. At this moment it didn’t occur to me that this guy was Red. This is also the incident in front of city hall where Red appeared to act disorderly.  

Recently, a reliable Grantville source submitted open records requests to Grantville for information regarding Reds Grub Shack as well.

The request was for a current copy of Red’s Grub Shack 2024 Beer & Wine license. Unknown time this request was submitted. On or around March 18^th or 19^th I was in Grantville City Hall submitting an open records request and a notarized statement establishing all future records be un-redacted IAW the Georgia Open Records Act pertaining to press and news media.

Red then enters city hall and public official Whitley asks Red if he is here to do his business license. Red was ushered into the back of the secured area of city hall (all recorded on video).

Approximately the next day or day after the reliable source is returned the open records request for Red’s Grub Shack 2024 Beer & Wine license. According to the record released the date issued of this license was March 20, 2024. Red could have been at city hall to renew his business license. Was Red also renewing his Beer & Wine license that day as well?

According to city records, Red’s Grub Shacks 2023 Beer & Wine license expired on December 31, 2023. Whereas the request for the 2024 copy was issued on March 20, 2024. It appears there was over a 60-day gap between the expiration date and the renewal date.

GT can’t confirm if Red’s Grub Shack was serving alcohol during this time. We did however find pictures on Facebook ranging from January 1, 2024, through February 24, 2024, with what looks to be open alcohol containers inside the establishment. We were also able to find one video that appears an unknown male is drinking from an open container. Since then, it looks like these pictures have been removed from the Facebook page.

We also found what appears to be an altered Beer & Wine license application. It looks that on May 5, 2023, an initial application was submitted to the city of Grantville. The portion of the application asks “I have / have not (circle one) ever been arrested for a crime. Where no information was filled in.

It appears that on June 26, 2023, that same application was altered with arrests and a double notarization. There was not an amended copy returned with this request.

According to Red’s criminal history the information placed on this application may not have been entirely accurate.

According to the Coweta County Superior Court Red was convicted in 2016 of Possess of firearm by a convicted felon. The disposition of “Nolo” was shown for the charge of Battery – Family Violence. Sentence was 5 years with first 12 months be served in confinement. Also, an additional 12 months to run concurrently. 

According to the Coweta County Superior Court Red was convicted of Aggravated Stalking in 2018. According to court transcripts it appears this count was reduced to 3 counts of misdemeanor stalking.

None of these Red mentioned on his application for a Beer & Wine license. The altered application listed some offenses but still not the more serious offenses. Did Mr. Phillips forget these arrests and convictions or were they intentionally not placed on the application.

According to city charter Sec. 5-174 states: (see image Sec 5-174)

According to city charter Sec. 5-179 states: (see image Sec 5-179)

Was this local business allowed to bypass certain city ordinances while others had to pay and file the necessary paperwork? Could Red now be the strong arm for city officials with Grantville protecting him on certain local remedies. This could be a recipe for disaster if that’s the case. 

Red also appears to spare no expense when commenting about another.

Taylor Phillips is the spouse of Red and appears to possess convictions as well. She was also voted in by council to serve on a Grantville Committee Board. According to a report by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor was charged with Battery Family Violence (FVA) against Red and Cruelty to Children on February 19, 2020. 

A disposition was entered on June 14, 2021, with defendant (Taylor) plea of guilty. Taylor was ordered to serve 10 days in jail and 24 months of Probation.

Taylor was voted to serve on the Recreation Committee Board voted by the Grantville City Council. Is this someone that the people would want around children. When Georgia Transparency introduced such information to Red, Red appeared to want to get violent. Red stated that he is about to come over and put hands on Georgia Transparency. 

However, the introduction of retaliation doesn’t end there. When Red learned about the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Robert Royce, Red commented.

Red also appears to have commented in the past about wanting to introduce violence.

Is this how a respectable local business owner should be acting. Does everyone have to share the same viewpoint as Red. If anyone’s viewpoint is different will Red want to introduce violence to anyone else?