GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — An order closes a hotel in Greensboro after a Guilford County Superior Court judge signed a temporary restraining order on Thursday against the owners and operators of the Howard Johnson Hotel, following allegations of drug trafficking, prostitution, and acts of violence.
According to a news release from the City of Greensboro, Judge Lisa Johnson-Tonkins signed the temporary restraining order as part of a civil nuisance abatement case filed on behalf of the State of North Carolina. The ruling means the property will be closed to all new guests and tenants effective immediately.
The hotel, owned by Classio Hospitality, LLC, was described in the City’s legal complaint as an “ongoing threat to public safety and welfare.” The complaint detailed repeated criminal activities, including felony narcotics trafficking, prostitution, and violence occurring on the premises.
City legal staff delivered the signed order to law enforcement around 3:15 p.m. Thursday in a parking lot on Veasley Street, where nearly 65 Greensboro police officers and 10 North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents were preparing to execute the closure. Members of the City’s Behavioral Health Response Team were also on site.
Officials said the nuisance abatement action was taken after traditional law enforcement methods failed to curb criminal activity at the location. Earlier in the week, Greensboro Police executed a search warrant at the hotel, leading to six arrests on felony drug and firearm charges.
A Fire Inspection Report dated October 14, 2025, further documented multiple life-safety hazards, including inoperative smoke detectors, faulty wiring, and unsecured gas lines.
Order Closes Hotel in Greensboro
“This location has generated serious concerns for neighboring properties,” said Assistant City Manager Andrea Harrell. “The owners of some of those properties reached out to us at the City for assistance.”
Bryan House, Director of Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE), emphasized the importance of the court’s action, saying, “The nuisance abatement statute often provides a means for immediate corrective action when traditional law enforcement methods have been unsuccessful. We are committed to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to mitigate the adverse impacts nuisance properties have on our communities.”
The order closing the hotel in Greensboro is part of a broader effort by city officials to target nuisance properties that pose risks to public safety and surrounding neighborhoods.
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Source: myfox8
Written by: Daniel Olafamoye, Greensboro NC News.
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