Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Hampton City Council unanimously voted to revoke a use permit for Chances Restaurant and Lounge on Wednesday after several security incidents this year forced police to increase officers’ presence near the business. The revocation means the business can no longer host live entertainment or serve alcohol, but it could continue to operate as a restaurant, according to Mayor Jimmy Gray. It was not immediately clear whether the business owners would pursue that option as the owners did not attend Wednesday’s City Council meeting and have not responded to requests for comment. Chances opened last October on along Settlers Landing Road. Gray said he attended the opening and it’s unfortunate for such a new business to lose their permit. However, he said the combination of live entertainment and alcohol was not working, and he hopes the owners can find a more successful business model with the space. “When a business attracts people who fight and shoot and disturb the peace in some area downtown, it creates a safety hazard for those that patronize the businesses down there,” Gray said after the council meeting. “Unfortunately, some restaurants only think they’re not responsible for the people once they leave the restaurant, but they are.” The owners may apply for a new permit or appeal the revocation, but Gray added the city would not approve the same license again. Though Chances employed security personnel outside the lounge, Hampton police reported responding to 25 calls for service at the restaurant this year, including three fights. From April through September, police said there were four incidents involving guns at Chances, including a May 5 homicide when a person was shot outside the restaurant. Police said the frequency of issues stemming from the bar led them to increase patrols in the area and pulled resources from other parts of the city. Hampton police officer Tyler Zminkowski told council members the division is deploying three to four officers to respond to incidents at Chances because they’ve come to expect calls with a large group of people. “I make reference to the theme of large groups of individuals loitering outside the business,” Zminkowski said. “That’s become common during our HPD responses, and we’ve had to adjust to that.” Under Chances use permit, it had been allowed to have live entertaining, liquor sales and to operate until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight the rest of the week. Part of holding its use permit includes providing security that’s “sufficient to monitor and control patron behavior” both inside and outside the business, according to city code. Staff are also required to comply with police in investigations and report any criminal activity, something police noted security at Chances has also repeatedly failed to do. In one instance, Zminkowski said police responded to a report of someone firing a gun into the air outside the business. He said police unknowingly checked on the suspect to ensure their safety because security failed to inform them of the shooter’s identity, or that they were still on site. Chances had already lost its liquor license twice. Virginia ABC suspended the restaurant’s liquor license after the May homicide for two weeks for failure to take reasonable measures to prevent violence. ABC revoked Chances liquor license again this month for further security incidents. Additionally, the city’s treasurer office designated the business as distressed as of Oct. 7, according to a sign posted outside the business, meaning it is struggling to repay debts or balance other financial responsibilities. The business did post a message on Chances’ Instagram page on Oct. 2, calling the loss of its liquor license “heartbreaking” and asking patrons to help bring a positive reputation to the business. “Even if you get may away with reckless behavior, it’s the business that pays the price — especially when it’s a Black-owned business,” the post read. “Every action taken outside our doors affects us, our people and the legacy we’re trying to build together.” Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com
