Savannah club charges racism in lease termination

SAVANNAH - The flashy dance floor and frozen drink machines have always made Malone&#39;s Food and Spirits stand out in Savannah&#39;s Market district, clashing with upscale boutiques and nearby restaurants. <br> <br> The club has drawn an increasingly black crowd since last year, even hiring a black rapper to perform outside. Now the landlord has terminated the bar&#39;s lease -- and charges of racism are flying. <br> <br> The two sides have always tolerated each other: Malone&#39;s stays because of the prime location, and the landlord, City Market Associates, enjoys the $12,000 monthly rent. <br> <br> The relationship turned sour two years ago, when the sides clashed in a lawsuit over rental fees. Now the city has stepped in to investigate whether racism led the landlord to cut off the lease. <br> <br> Aldermen ordered City Manager Michael Brown to investigate claims of racism. His staff has begun conducting interviews.