Owner of popular Athens restaurant falls to his death

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) The owner of a popular vegetarian restaurant in Athens fell to his death from a downtown parking deck Friday morning.

Ted Hafer -- owner of The Grit -- was pronounced dead at Athens Regional Medical Center shortly after emergency workers arrived at the deck. He was 42.

A passer-by called 911 about 10:40 a-m to report that a man's body was on a sidewalk on East Washington Street.

Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jack Lumpkin said a video camera captured the start of Hafer's fall from the wall at the top of the deck, about 80 feet above street level. Lumpkin said a witness also looked on as Hafer started to plunge from the seven-level deck.

He said investigators ruled out foul play after watching the video and talking to the witness.

Police would not say whether they think Hafer jumped or accidentally fell.

Although Hafer was NOT one of the original founders of The Grit, he and his wife Jessica Greene owned it for years and in 2001 co-wrote a popular cookbook of The Grit's vegetarian recipes.

Housed in a Prince Avenue building owned by R-E-M singer Michael Stipe, The Grit for years has drawn health-conscious Athenians and out-of-town musicians.

News of Hafer's death spread rapidly in the college town. Former Athens Mayor Gwen O'Looney says -- quote -- ``There was no charity in town he ever said no to.''

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)