In what has turned into a battle of neighbor against neighbor, the Church Hill staple Captain Buzzy’s Beanery was denied the ability to sell beer and wine by City Council last night.
In what has turned into a battle of neighbor against neighbor, the Church Hill staple Captain Buzzy’s Beanery was denied the ability to sell beer and wine by City Council last night.
Anyone who owns a restaurant in RVA knows there are large and small battles around every corner, but usually its the city pushing back – this time it was residents who seemed most vehemently opposed to allowing the small independent coffee shop to broaden its base. The Times Dispatch has some details:
Council voted 5-4 to deny a special use permit that would have allowed the coffee shop at 2623 E. Broad St. to sell beer and wine and extend its operating hours by one hour on six days of the week.
….
The vote ends a months long saga that included a last-minute 30-second television advertisement by opponents — supporters of Captain Buzzy’s called it an “attack ad” — and a mass resignation by directors of the Church Hill Association in August sparked by dissension over the proposal.
And with that, the deal is done and Buzzy’s is back where it started.
But it was a good fight. Locals gathered around the 6-year-old establishment and tried their best to get the support they hoped would change the law. Richmonder Valerie Beckner even started a Change.org petition to help sway the masses:
Buzzy’s is a small, local business that Richmonders have watched grow from the Ugly Mug Coffee and Tea at the Market to a cornerstone of the Church Hill community. The shop has become a “third place” for many residents. However, Buzzy’s is a business, after all, and competition has grown in recent years as the neighborhood has continued to develop. The extra hour of business and the added income from beer and wine sales would improve the coffee shop, keep jobs, and help secure Buzzy’s future in Church Hill. The additional revenue would also help pay for Bob’s daughter’s college tuition and keep a promise to Bob’s late wife Mary Ann to keep her beloved Buzzy’s alive.
But City Council dashed those dreams, and while CB’s owner, told the TD “What’s done is done,” it hasn’t stopped the fury of other Richmonders and business owners. This diatribe comes from the never-shy owner of The Camel, Rand Burgess:
Not sure why city council denied captain Buzzy’s sup permit…since when are we in the business of denying opportunities in this city of 200k people. I mean, what the fuck. You want a Starbucks in church hill or a local business. I don’t see how council members can be in the business of “promoting local” and yet deny something as simple as this…despite an “agreement” made when Buzzy’s first opened, business needs evolve, to stay competitive that business’ needs to evolve otherwise we will have vacant storefronts instead of vibrant neighborhoods, neighborhoods need hubs like Buzzy’s
The agreement Burgess mentioned involves Buzzy’s being promised the ability to sell beer and wine at some point after he agreed to turn the then-corner store (which sold beer) into a coffee shop. Not to mention the few bars that surround that block of Church Hill offer brews and hooch to those in need.
Again, an older TD story has some more details:
Buzzy’s is zoned in a single-family residential area, meaning that commercial shops must have a special permit to sell food and drinks. In 2004, neighbors and city officials negotiated with Buffington to allow the operation of a coffee shop, but rejected the idea of a full-service restaurant.
This year, Buffington applied to amend the permit, requesting an extension of operating hours and an on-premises beer and wine license, among other things.
Neighbors have said they are concerned that allowing Buzzy’s to sell alcohol would set a precedent that could possibly turn the Church Hill neighborhood into a neighborhood like the Fan District.
But, the crowd at City Council managed to sway the votes in their favor – and accusations have been tossed around saying the opposition was “well organized and well funded.” While I don’t think the Koch brothers exactly had a stake in the future of Captain Buzzy’s, sometimes all it takes is some well organized resistance to make things happen.
Sorry Buzzy, I’ll pour one out for you.
