Actor Woody Harrelson and filmmakers Bobby and Peter Farrelly shot movie scenes at Najjar’s Buckhead mansion. Hip-hop producer Dallas Austin was a regular at his parties. MTV filmed a reality episode displaying his home’s opulence. His pool was highlighted by HGTV’s “Million Dollar Rooms.” Entertainment media organizations attempted to link Najjar to yet another reality TV show, and slap a catchy nickname on him.

Then the economy tanked. Najjar lost Union Station Mall in south Fulton County to foreclosure in January, other holdings went a similar route, and one of the city’s most flamboyant characters came crashing down — facing a bitter, off-camera reality.

“He’s lost his empire,” said Linda Johnson, Union City zoning commission co-chairwoman and Green Manor restaurant manager.

The bank seized the home from Bolze early last year after Bolze fled to Pennsylvania and stopped making payments on the home, which has an estimated value above $5 million.

Bolze pleaded guilty Nov. 10 in Knoxville federal court to all charges against him. He was accused of defrauding investors of $21 million in a wide-ranging Ponzi scheme.

Photo credit: Gary Heatherly Photography