NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Norfolk business owners are concerned about the closure and upregulation of businesses in and around downtown Norfolk. Some owners say the fine line between policing and restriction is cutting into their profits.
As we’ve reported, city officials are trying to find a way to stop the ongoing violence. One such idea is to require businesses to have a modified conditional use permit.
“In trying to cast a wider net to apply, I think they’re starting to include things they don’t fully understand,” said Charles Rasputin of the Slowdive Gallery in Ghent.
Rasputin owns Slowdive and helped create Norfolk’s NEON District. His gallery is also a restaurant that serves alcohol and used to host various forms of live entertainment until recently, when he says the city told him the space zoning certificate requires the gallery to close at midnight and prohibits dancing and live entertainment. . The restrictions come as a result of the gun violence problem in and around downtown Norfolk.
“It’s hard. It’s hard to know that you tried to do everything right and yet you can’t find the right footing,” Rasputin said.
Rasputin told 10 On Your Side that he was in the middle of the conditional use permit and rezoning process last month when it suddenly closed.
“They said I couldn’t operate under that CUP currently, I was immediately shut down. I completely agreed. I got a visit the next day from the firemen who put a trespass on my door even though I hadn’t broken any orders. They also came back and told me I was not allowed to do business. I didn’t have this license or that license. I produced all of them, newly refurbished, in which they said next time okay you’re good to be in business, but then they call me the next day saying oh we gave you the wrong information,” Rasputin explained.
While Rasputin led the process that he says also confused the council members, he had to remain locked up.
“For a small business, two weeks, three weeks of no revenue and a small staff, we’re down to under a dozen people here, it’s a death blow,” Rasputin said.
He is urging city officials to reconsider forcing Norfolk’s nightlife to stop at midnight and limit its opportunities for live entertainment. The conditional use permit and zoning ordinance will be the subject of discussion during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“I hope we have a bigger and longer conversation about this than an announcement on Thursday and a decision on Tuesday,” Rasputin said.
Rasputin says he signed up to speak at the meeting with other business owners at night.
Check WAVY.com for the latest updates.
